Monte Carlo Simulations Of The Response Of Shielded SNM To A Pulsed Neutron Source

Active neutron interrogation has been used as a technique for the detection and identification of special nuclear material (SNM) for both proposed and field-tested systems. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has been studying this technique for systems ranging from small systems employing portable electronic neutron generators to larger systems employing linear accelerators as high-energy photon sources for assessment of vehicles and cargo. In order to assess the feasibility of new systems, INL has undertaken a campaign of Monte Carlo simulations of the response of a variety of masses of SNM in multiple shielding configurations to a pulsed neutron source using the MCNPX code, with emphasis on the neutron and photon response of the system as a function of time after the initial neutron pulse. We present here some preliminary results from these calculations.