neutron metrology – future · pdf fileneutron metrology – future formulation ......

Neutron Metrology – future formulation

Martin RidesDavid Thomas

Acoustics and Ionising Radiation Division 20 October 2015

NPL’s Mission

To provide the measurement capability that underpins the UK’s prosperity and quality of life

We provide confidence in measurementWe accelerate the application of S&T

Neutron Users' Club 2

UK Measurement Strategy 2016-2020

Objectives: Understand and support delivery of UK National

Policies for Science, Innovation, Industry and other Societal priorities

Define requirements for future measurement research and infrastructure

Provide a compelling vision and recommendations for successful delivery of all policy objectives

Draft by December 2015


UK Measurement Strategy 2016-2020 Proposed Framework

Requirements

Themes

Measurement underpins government policy, delivering growth and productivity

Need for a world-class measurement infrastructure that leads and coordinates across government and the Research and Innovation landscape

1. Science Excellence – investing in long term capabilities

2. Access to national and international capabilities for UK business

3. An integrated and coordinated infrastructure


UK Measurement Strategy 2016-2020: What are the key questions?

What is the scope and role of the measurement infrastructure? How can the National Measurement System (NMS) be more

integrated with the Research and Innovation landscape? What should be the function of the NMI?

What are the future requirements for metrology science? Where is measurement support going to provide the biggest

impact?

What should be the mechanisms available for UK business to access measurement capability – what are the main barriers?

How can the international metrology community be brought in to support UK Business and Research?


Neutron metrology needs

David Thomas


Neutron Group Facilities

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Manganese sulphate bath Radionuclidesources

Low-scatter hallVan de GraaffThermalsNeutron Users' Club

Technical areas

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Radiation protection in the nuclear industry, in aviation (cosmic rays), in medical applications (hadron therapy), in research establishments.

Nuclear power applications – fission and fusion

Defence, safeguards, security (CBRN), nuclear data, radiation hardening.

All these technical areas tend to require fluence and dose standards over wide ranges of neutron energies and intensities

Neutron Users' Club

Summary of aims and objectives

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Maintain present capabilities and facilitiesExtend standards and measurement

capabilities into identified priority areas. (Improved uncertainties not usually a top priority)

Utilise expertise in projects, usually collaborative ones, to develop better measurement neutron capabilities

Need to identify important areas?

Neutron Users' Club

Short term

Continue to participate in key comparisons organised by the Consultative Committee for Ionizing Radiation (CCRI) Section (III). New comparisons proposed for:• Thermal neutron fluence with Au foils • Area survey instrument calibration• Personal dosemeter calibration

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Maintenance and validation of current capabilities

Neutron Users' Club

Neutron Group Accelerator

Report by Martin Rides on A review of the neutron metrology facilities at NPL in particular the accelerator based capabilities

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Current accelerator is working well at present but is >50 years old

Obvious replacement would be a Tandatron c.f. picture. This is what IRSN have and PTB are buying, but this only replicates our present capability without extending it.

Neutron Users' Club

3-5 year aims

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Acquire and install a new accelerator Extend the energy range of calibration fields in terms of

energy and intensity (overload, radiation hardness) Understand pulsed field neutron measurements Develop neutron protection measurements at hadron

therapy facilities (high energy and pulsed field!) Clarify needs for fusion standards (JET, ITER) Improve NPL field measurement capabilities Investigate radiobiological data and new quantities for

neutron radiation protection Explore novel technologies for neutron detection Utilise digital signal processing, (n/γ discrimination) Improve fluence accuracy in nuclear data experiments Develop expertise in new radiation transport codes,

maintain input to committees, e.g. CCRI, ISO, CRAG

Neutron Users' Club

Longer term issues

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Need standards for high-energy neutrons (> 20 MeV) for

Around proton and ion therapy facilities for unwanted doses to the patient and radiation protection of staff.

Cosmic ray neutron field measurements in aircrafts and in space for protection and radiation hardness testing of electronic components

Protection measurements at high energy accelerators. Measurement of high energy cross sections

Problems – the 20 MeV ceiling!Producing standards at energies >20 MeV requires a high energy accelerator. Suitable ones are very scarce.

Neutron Users' Club

High-energy (>20 MeV) standards

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Issues need calibration fields: PTB and IRSN have plans to collaborate in setting up a

facility at iTemba labs and they would like NPL to participate

To what extent should NPL get involved? Could be large commitment for a small group.

Neutron Users' Club

Summary

Radiation protection – continue to extend calibration capabilities (high-intensities, intermediate energy fields) & involvement with developing better devices

High energy – probably highest priority area, but way forward not clear

Fusion – standards for ITER should be developed in collaboration with other NMIs. Maintain links with JET

Other users – high intensity fields for electronics testing, tomography capabilities, nuclear data?

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Where can we best utilise our limited research resources? (~4 man years annually rest of effort on maintenance)

Neutron Users' Club

Neutron Metrology Project Summary

The Neutron Metrology R&D will provide end users with traceability to national and international standards by maintain existing neutron standards, extending their energy and intensity range, and developing new standards. underpin neutron dosimetry by providing facilities for: calibrating radiation

protection instruments, testing new ones under development, and ensuring dosemeters comply with regulations,

provide essential testing capabilities for reactor instruments prior to installation, guarantee the accurate radionuclide source emission rate measurements on which

large areas of neutron metrology depend, deliver improvements to nuclear data, provide advice, knowledge transfer, and field measurement services for demanding

measurement areas, utilise the Group’s facilities and expertise to improve neutron measuring

instruments and techniques.


Project description – Outcome 1 (draft)Maintenance and development of UK neutron standards

Enable measurers of neutron fluence or dose equivalent (principally the nuclear energy sector, but also including the medical, oil well logging, counter terrorism, and research communities) to validate the appropriateness of their neutron measurements and to demonstrate traceability to national and international standards, for compliance with regulations and their legal requirements, through provision of standards and appropriate dissemination processes.

This will be supported through contributions to increasing the robustness, energy range, and maximum intensity of UK neutron standards provision through: • updating of ageing facilities for primary neutron standards (progress towards replacing

and commissioning the Van de Graaff Generator and associated equipment), • development and implementation of the manganese bath as an absolute primary

standard for neutron emission rate, • participation in international comparisons on thermal neutron fluence standards

(required to resolve discrepancies previously identified) and a key comparison on neutron source emission rate.

• development of new standards both for high intensity, and for low energy fields.

Progress will be evidenced by new standards for high intensity and low energy fields made available through measurement services and good practice guidance, disseminated through neutron user groups meetings, conferences and peer reviewed scientific papers.


Project description – Outcome 2 (draft)

Improved neutron measurements by the user community

Research and innovation aimed at improving safety and efficiencies in the nuclear industry and healthcare sectors through establishing neutron radiation protection measurements on a more robust basis, providing increased confidence in measurements. Also, improved measurement capabilities in complex neutron fields, for nuclear data, and neutron fields in general.

This outcome will be supported through contributions to: • improved understanding of radiobiology effects in neutron dosimetry and research into

the development of more appropriate sensors for personal dosimetry (i.e. improved and more appropriate personal dose equivalent measurement).

• neutron measurements at hadron therapy centres• development of improved spectrometers for field dose measurements to underpin

personal dosimetry research. • research on understand the metrological issues for measuring pulsed fields • improve the accuracy of the fluence values used in nuclear data measurements

Evidenced by improved instrumentation and validated new sensor materials for improved monitoring exploited through industrial collaborations, and disseminated via neutron metrology fora, and conference and peer reviewed scientific papers.


Next steps and how to get engaged

We want to hear your thoughts on the UK Measurement Strategy and the strategy for Neutron Metrology R&D

Series of one-to-one consultations Public Consultation opening October for UK Measurement Strategy

Contact Martin Rides [email protected] 0208 943 6777


mailto:[email protected]

neutron metrology – future · pdf fileneutron metrology – future formulation ......

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