Abstract: At least one pair of hodoscope radiation monitors arranged to simultaneously monitor a target region that contains a source of radiation. The hodoscopes are preferably arranged so that their fields of view of the region are approximately orthogonal. The fields of view of the two detectors will overlap in a region that contains the source of radiation. Each of the two detectors will record radiation from the overlap region and, in addition, will record background radiation emanating from other regions within detector fields of view. The present invention provides statistical correlation techniques to estimate the extent to which unusually high radiation originates in the overlap region, irrespective of background in the field-of-view of individual hodoscope detectors. The source of radiation might be spontaneous, might be from an activation process, or might be scattered in from an external beam.

Abstract: At least one pair of hodoscope radiation monitors arranged to simultaneously monitor a target region that contains a source of radiation. The hodoscopes are preferably arranged so that their fields of view of the region are approximately orthogonal. The fields of view of the two detectors will overlap in a region that contains the source of radiation. Each of the two detectors will record radiation from the overlap region and, in addition, will record background radiation emanating from other regions within detector fields of view. The present invention provides statistical correlation techniques to estimate the extent to which unusually high radiation originates in the overlap region, irrespective of background in the field-of-view of individual hodoscope detectors. The source of radiation might be spontaneous, might be from an activation process, or might be scattered in from an external beam.

Abstract: A liquid lithium-cooled fission reactor optimized for producing radioactive materials. The reactor is designed to enhance the availability of rare radioactive materials that have significant value for national defense, industrial research, and medical care. This invention has tangible design attributes that can be tailored to create one or more scarce and valuable radioactive materials. In particular, the reactor design is optimized for low-cost production of large quantities of radioactive tritium needed in national-defense and fusion-breeder programs. There are four core designs applied to this invention, all of which produce tritium and surplus heat that can generate byproduct electricity, thereby reducing the cost of radioactive-material production.

Abstract: This invention is a switchable neutron generating apparatus comprised of a pair of plates, the first plate having an alpha emitter section on it and the second plate having a target material portion on it which generates neutrons when its nuclei absorb an alpha particle. In operation, the alpha portion of the first plate is aligned with the neutron portion of the second plate to produce neutrons and brought out of alignment to cease production of neutrons.

Abstract: A monitoring system for detecting changes in the liquid levels in various regions of a water-cooled nuclear power reactor, viz., in the downcomer, in the core, in the inlet and outlet plenums, at the head, and elsewhere; and also for detecting changes in the density of the liquid in these regions. A plurality of gamma radiation detectors are used, arranged vertically along the outside of the reactor vessel, and collimator means for each detector limits the gamma-radiation it receives as emitting from only isolated regions of the vessel. Excess neutrons produced by the fission reaction will be captured by the water coolant, by the steel reactor walls, or by the fuel or control structures in the vessel. Neutron capture by steel generates gamma radiation having an energy level of the order of 5-12 MeV, whereas neutron capture by water provides an energy level of approximately 2.2 MeV, and neutron capture by the fission fuel or its cladding provides an energy level of 1 MeV or less.

Abstract: An event that occurs repetitively at continuously changing frequencies can be used to generate a triggering pulse which is used to synchronize or control. The triggering pulse is generated at a predetermined percentage of the period of the repetitive waveform without regard to frequency. Counts are accumulated in two counters, the first counting during the "on" fraction of the period, and the second counting during the "off" fraction. The counts accumulated during each cycle are compared. On equality the trigger pulse is generated. Count input rates to each counter are determined by the ratio of the on-off fractions of the event waveform and the desired phase relationship. This invention is of particular utility in providing a trigger or synchronizing pulse during the open period of the shutter of a high-speed framing camera during its acceleration as well as its period of substantially constant speed.