It has been shown that neutrons emitted from the same 252Cf fission event are preferentially detected within small angles of each other and at angles around 180 degrees. The distribution of this angular anisotropy is dependent upon the nuclide emitting the neutrons. Coincident neutrons can be detected from a shielded source, so a study of the angular anisotropy between coincident neutrons is useful for this context. This could allow for the dynamic determination of the ratio of the rate of (alpha,n) neutron production to the spontaneous fission neutron production (designated alpha) used in neutron coincidence counting for safeguards. This could also be used to identify neutron emitting isotopes in a homeland security application. An angular frequency distribution for coincident neutrons was produced via experiments using an array of cylindrical liquid scintillators and a 252Cf source. It was found, in accordance with previous experiments, that the angular frequency distribution peaks at small angles and at angles around 180 degrees. A Monte Carlo, physics-based simulation program was created to simulate the distribution of angles between neutrons from the same fission event from 252Cf and 240Pu sources. The resulting distributions were clearly distinguishable from each other. The code was benchmarked to measured results from a 252Cf source at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Knowledge of the unique angular distributions of coincident neutrons from various fissioning sources is useful for identification and verification purposes. Another practical application of angular anisotropy information for coincident neutrons from a given source is determining the ratio of the (alpha,n) to spontaneous fission rates for a source undergoing neutron coincidence counting. The utility of this was verified by using measurements made by faculty and students of the University of Michigan Nuclear Engineering Department for a MOX fuel pin at the Joint Research Center in Ispra, Italy. Good agreement between the predicted and declared values for alpha was found.

Amostras de nitrato de potássio e enxofre natural foram irradiadas no núcleo do reator de pesquisas IEA-R1 do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN-SP, operando entre 3,5 e 5 MW de potência, para determinar as secções de choque térmicas e integrais de ressonância das reações 34S(n,)35S e 42K(n,)43K. O fluxo de nêutrons foi monitorado com ligas ouro-alumínio. As atividades induzidas nos alvos de ouro-alumínio e nitrato de potássio foram medidas com um detector semicondutor de germânio hiper puro; as atividades dos alvos de enxofre foram determinadas com um sistema de coincidências 4\\pi\\beta - \\gamma. Os efeitos de depressão de fluxo, autoblindagem e autoabsorção nos alvos foram corrigidos com base em simulações com o método de Monte Carlo por meio do programa MCNP. O programa PENELOPE, também baseado no método de Monte Carlo, foi modificado para simular o comportamento do sistema de coincidências 4\\pi\\beta - \\gamma. O formalismo de Westcott e o método da razão de cádmio foram usados para determinar os fluxos de nêutrons térmicos e epitérmicos, assim como as secções de choque térmicas e integrais de ressonância de ambos nuclídeos. Foi efetuado um tratamento estatístico das incertezas envolvidas e determinadas as covariâncias entre os resultados, incluindo aquelas decorrentes das incertezas do padrão de referência (ouro). As reações 34S(n,)35S e 42K(n,)43K apresentaram, respectivamente, seções de choque térmicas de 228(14) mb e 44,8(9) b, e integrais de ressonância de 144(6) mb e 1635(75) b. Estes resultados são incompatíveis com aqueles obtidos com cálculos teóricos. A seção de choque térmica da reação 34S(n,)35S concorda com valores obtidos por outros autores, dentro das incertezas experimentais. / Samples of potassium nitrate and natural sulphur were irradiated in the IPEN/CNEN-SP IEA-R1 research reactor core, operating between 3.5 and 5 MW, to determine the thermal neutron cross sections and resonance integrals of 34S(n,)35S and 42K(n,)43K reactions. The neutron flux was monitored with gold-aluminium alloy. The activities induced in targets of gold-aluminium and potassium nitrate were measured with a high purity germanium detector. Sulphur targets activities were determined with a 4\\pi\\beta-\\gamma coincidences system by the tracer method. Flux depression, self-shielding and self-absorption in the targets was evaluated by simulations using the MCNP software. The PENELOPE software, also based on Monte Carlo method, was modified to simulate the behavior of the 4\\pi\\beta-\\gamma coincidence system. The Westcott formalism and the cadmium ratio method were used to determine epithermal and thermal neutrons flux as well as the thermal cross sections and resonance integrals of both nuclides. A statistical analysis of the uncertainties was performed and the covariance between the results was determined, including those arising from the uncertainties of the gold reference standard. The results were compared with experimental values and theoretical predictions obtained by other authors. The 34S(n,)35S and 42K(n,)43K reactions had, respectively, thermal cross sections of 228(14) mb and 44.8(9) b, and integral resonances of 144(6) mb and 1635(75) b. These results are incompatible with the obtained with theoretical calculations. The 34S(n,)35S reaction thermal cross section agrees with values obtained by other authors, within the experimental uncertainties.

O Laboratório de Metrologia Nuclear (LMN) do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN) realizou a padronização primária dos radionuclídeos 64Cu e 166Ho. Esses radioisótopos são utilizados na Medicina Nuclear em investigações diagnósticas e em radioterapia. A atividade absoluta foi determinada utilizando o método de coincidências 4πβ(PC)- γ associado à técnica de extrapolação de eficiência. Para isto, foram utilizados um contador proporcional em geometria 4π acoplado ao um contador de cintilação NaI (Tl). Para a padronização do 64Cu foram utilizados dois sistemas para registro de dados: sistema TAC e sistema SCS. No sistema TAC é utilizado o módulo Time to Amplitude Converter (TAC) associado a um analisador multicanal, sendo que a eficiência do detector 4πPC foi variada por meio de absorvedores externos e foi aplicado fator de correção para as eficiências beta denominado fator Kawada. No sistema SCS (Software Coincidence System) o registro dos eventos foi feito por meio da digitalização dos pulsos, a eficiência do detector 4πPC foi variada por discriminação eletrônica e a atividade foi obtida pela extrapolação biparamétrica. A padronização do 166Ho em sistema de coincidências 4πβ(PC)- γ foi realizada utilizando o sistema de aquisição de dados por software, SCS (Software Coincidence System). Para determinação das probabilidade de emissão gama dos radionuclídeos foi utilizado um espectrômetro gama HPGe calibrado com ampolas padrão de 152Eu, 60Co, 133Ba, 137Cs e 241Am, calibradas no sistema primário 4πβ(PC)- γ. A probabilidade de emissão gama por decaimento do fóton de 1345,7 keV do 64Cu obtida foi de 0,472 (10) % apresentando um bom acordo com os dados da literatura. A probabilidade de emissão gama por decaimento do fóton gama de 1379,45 keV do 166Ho foi de 0,936 (4) %. Por meio destas medidas foi possível também a determinação das intensidades relativas de outros fótons emitidos por este radionuclídeo. Os resultados obtidos foram concordantes com a literatura dentro da incerteza experimental. / The procedure followed by the Nuclear Metrology Laboratory (LMN) at the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN) for the primary standardization of 64Cu and 166Ho is described. These radionuclides are widely applied to Nuclear Medicine such as in diagnostic investigations and in radiotherapy. The absolute activity of both radionuclides were determined by the efficiency extrapolation method applied to 4πβ(PC)-γ coincidence counting system using a proportional counter in 4π geometry coupled with NaI(Tl) scintillation counter. The primary standardisation of 64Cu for the conventional coincidence counting, the events were registered using a Time to Amplitude Converter (TAC) system associated with a multi-channel analyzer and by a software coincidence counting system, SCS, a digital method for primary activity measurements that simplifies the setting of optimal coincidence parameters. For perfoming the standardization of 64Cu in the TAC system, the efficiency of the 4πβ(PC)-γ detector was varied using external absorbers and in order to correct the beta efficiency, the Kawada factor was applied. In the SCS counting, the events were registered by means of pulse digitalization and the efficiencies (εEC and εβ) were varied through eletronic discrimination. The biparametric method was used for determining the absolute activity and the result was in good agreement with the ones obtained with TAC system. The standardization of 166Ho in the primary system was performed using the software coincidence counting, SCS. The gamma-ray emission probability per decay of the main transitions of both radionuclides were determined using the results obtained from the primary method, the 4πβ(PC)-γ coincidence system, associated with a calibrated HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer with standard ampoules of 152Eu, 60Co, 133Ba, 137Cs e 241Am, previously standardized in the 4πβ(PC)-γ system. The gamma-ray emission probability per decay of the 1345,7 keV transition of 64Cu was 0,472 (10) %, in good agreement with the literature. The gamma-ray emission probability per decay of the 1379,45 keV transition of 166Ho was 0,936 (4) %. It were also determined the relative gamma ray emmission probability of other gamma rays for this nuclide . All the results obtained were in good agreement with the literature.

Amostras de nitrato de potássio e enxofre natural foram irradiadas no núcleo do reator de pesquisas IEA-R1 do Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN/CNEN-SP, operando entre 3,5 e 5 MW de potência, para determinar as secções de choque térmicas e integrais de ressonância das reações 34S(n,)35S e 42K(n,)43K. O fluxo de nêutrons foi monitorado com ligas ouro-alumínio. As atividades induzidas nos alvos de ouro-alumínio e nitrato de potássio foram medidas com um detector semicondutor de germânio hiper puro; as atividades dos alvos de enxofre foram determinadas com um sistema de coincidências 4\\pi\\beta - \\gamma. Os efeitos de depressão de fluxo, autoblindagem e autoabsorção nos alvos foram corrigidos com base em simulações com o método de Monte Carlo por meio do programa MCNP. O programa PENELOPE, também baseado no método de Monte Carlo, foi modificado para simular o comportamento do sistema de coincidências 4\\pi\\beta - \\gamma. O formalismo de Westcott e o método da razão de cádmio foram usados para determinar os fluxos de nêutrons térmicos e epitérmicos, assim como as secções de choque térmicas e integrais de ressonância de ambos nuclídeos. Foi efetuado um tratamento estatístico das incertezas envolvidas e determinadas as covariâncias entre os resultados, incluindo aquelas decorrentes das incertezas do padrão de referência (ouro). As reações 34S(n,)35S e 42K(n,)43K apresentaram, respectivamente, seções de choque térmicas de 228(14) mb e 44,8(9) b, e integrais de ressonância de 144(6) mb e 1635(75) b. Estes resultados são incompatíveis com aqueles obtidos com cálculos teóricos. A seção de choque térmica da reação 34S(n,)35S concorda com valores obtidos por outros autores, dentro das incertezas experimentais. / Samples of potassium nitrate and natural sulphur were irradiated in the IPEN/CNEN-SP IEA-R1 research reactor core, operating between 3.5 and 5 MW, to determine the thermal neutron cross sections and resonance integrals of 34S(n,)35S and 42K(n,)43K reactions. The neutron flux was monitored with gold-aluminium alloy. The activities induced in targets of gold-aluminium and potassium nitrate were measured with a high purity germanium detector. Sulphur targets activities were determined with a 4\\pi\\beta-\\gamma coincidences system by the tracer method. Flux depression, self-shielding and self-absorption in the targets was evaluated by simulations using the MCNP software. The PENELOPE software, also based on Monte Carlo method, was modified to simulate the behavior of the 4\\pi\\beta-\\gamma coincidence system. The Westcott formalism and the cadmium ratio method were used to determine epithermal and thermal neutrons flux as well as the thermal cross sections and resonance integrals of both nuclides. A statistical analysis of the uncertainties was performed and the covariance between the results was determined, including those arising from the uncertainties of the gold reference standard. The results were compared with experimental values and theoretical predictions obtained by other authors. The 34S(n,)35S and 42K(n,)43K reactions had, respectively, thermal cross sections of 228(14) mb and 44.8(9) b, and integral resonances of 144(6) mb and 1635(75) b. These results are incompatible with the obtained with theoretical calculations. The 34S(n,)35S reaction thermal cross section agrees with values obtained by other authors, within the experimental uncertainties.