Evaluation of a TRU waste counter for crated nuclear wastes

The differential dieaway time technique developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a very useful development for active interrogation nondestructive assay. Prompt neutrons from accelerator-neutron-induced fission provide the fissile assay response. That technology has been combined with passive interogation by neutron coincidence (or correlation) counting into one prototype device to assay fissile material in large crates of waste. This paper focuses on the first operational use of the LANL technology at the Rocky Flats Plant.