Inspection of nuclear waste
AssigneeUnited Kingdom Research and Innovation
InventorsThomas Scott, Ceri Mae Brenner, Richard Allott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for inspecting nuclear waste, for example drums of intermediate level nuclear waste, are disclosed. In particular, a single laser pulse may be directed at a pitcher-catcher laser target structure, with subsequent separate detection of the generated X-rays and neutrons.
Claims23
A method of inspecting a unit of nuclear waste, comprising generating both X-rays and neutrons using a single laser pulse directed at a pitcher-catcher laser target structure, separately detecting the X-rays and neutrons after passage through the unit of nuclear waste, and generating a separate transmission image of the unit of nuclear waste using each of the detected X-rays and the detected neutrons.
A method of inspecting a unit of nuclear waste, comprising:
- positioning the unit of nuclear waste between a target structure and at least one particle detector;
- generating a laser beam pulse;
- directing the laser beam pulse to the target structure to cause the target structure to emit both X-rays and neutrons;
- detecting the X-rays and neutrons at the at least one particle detector following passage through the unit of nuclear waste;
- and
- generating a separate image of the unit from each of the detected X-rays and neutrons.
Apparatus for inspecting a unit of nuclear waste comprising:
- a laser system arranged to generate a laser beam pulse;
- a pitcher-catcher target structure arranged to receive the laser beam pulse and to thereby emit X-rays and neutrons;
- and
- one or more detectors arranged to detect the X-rays and neutrons arising from the laser beam pulse following passage through a unit of nuclear waste;
- wherein the apparatus is arranged to generate a separate transmission image of the unit of nuclear waste using each of the detected X-rays and neutrons arising from the laser beam pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.