Detection of Fissioning Materials Using a Neutron Source Based on a Compact Betatron

The possibility of using a neutron source based on a 10 MeV compact betatron and 1 kg heavy water or 3.3 kg beryllium in the betratron bremsstrahlung beam is investigated. The ^sup 235^U detection limit in a 358 mm in diameter and 782 mm high container with probability 0.997 in an experimental apparatus with one epithermal-neutron detector is 40 mg with exposure 10 min. Increasing the mass of the neutron target to 10 kg heavy water and the number of neutron counters to 25 could decrease the ^sup 235^U detection limit to 3 mg. A neutron detector based on a compact betatron can be expected to give ^sup 235^U detection sensitivity 10^sup -8^ g/g.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]