b'Progress towards Pulsed Neutron Characterization of EntireIrradiation Capsules with SHERMAN, the Sample Handling Environment for Radioactive Materials Analyzed with NeutronsPrincipal Investigator: Sven C. Vogel (LANL)Team Members/ Collaborator: Eric J. Larson (LANL), James R. Angell (INL), D. Travis Carver (LANL), Aaron Craft (INL), Christopher Fairbanks (LANL), Brian Gross (INL), Alex M. Long (LANL), Jason M. Harp (ORNL), Peter Hosemann (UC Berkeley), and Vedant K. Mehta (LANL)SHERMAN, the SampleA Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The bottleneck of nuclear energy research and developmentcask design has several constraints Handling Environment(R&D) is the lack of bulk probesthat must be fulfilled in order to for Radioactiveto identify non-destructively the mostallow loading of the irradiated fuel scientifically valuable volume of lessat INL, transportation to LANL, and Materials Analyzed with3Neutrons, will enablethan 1 mmvolume to be preparedpulsed neutron characterization at the destructively for characterization out ofLANSCE at LANL. The cask is designed multi-modal pulsed3neutron characterizationa several cmtotal volume of irradiatedto characterize irradiated mixed oxide of entire irradiationmaterial contained in an irradiation(MOX) fuel samples of the AFC-2C capsules to guidecapsule. Pulsed neutron-based tech- and AFC-2D irradiation campaigns, destructive examinationniques enable energy-resolved neutronemitting estimated dose rates of 900R/as well as providing datatomography (i.e., in the epithermalhr on contact.regime where the absorption of isotopes hitherto unavailable. 235 239 Project Description:such asU andPu is sufficiently lowThe cask design has to fulfill criteria to provide sufficient neutron transmis- imposed by radiation safety, i.e., dose sion), neutron absorption resonancerates on the cask surface acceptable for spectroscopy (including the potential tohandling by workers with a 900 R/reconstruct isotope densities in 3D), andhr sample inside, as well as structural neutron diffraction. These techniquesintegrity, i.e., simulated drop tests that were developed and applied to freshmust not result in direct shine paths fuels at Los Alamos Neutron Sciencefor the sample to the outside. The cask Center (LANSCE) in the past years andhas to fit into the cargo bay of a BEA add parameters and characterizationResearch Reactor (BRR) Type-B ship-opportunities not available by otherping cask to be able to transport the methods for post irradiation examina- irradiated fuel on public roads from tion of entire capsules.irradiation facilities at INL or Oak Ridge A cask named SHERMAN (SampleNational Laboratory (ORNL) to LANL. Handling Environment for RadioactiveSample loading, i.e., attaching irradia-Materials Analyzed with Neutrons,tion capsules to the SHERMAN sample Figure 1), allowing to apply thesestick, has to be possible in hot cells. techniques to irradiated fuels, wasFinally, pulsed neutron characterization, designed at Los Alamos Nationali.e., beam paths to the sample and the Laboratory (LANL), University ofdiffraction, neutron resonance spectros-California Berkeley (UC Berkeley) andcopy, and radiography detectors have to be possible. 46 2021|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'