James L. Jones

A New Legionella Species, Legionella feeleii Species Nova, Causes Pontiac Fever in an Automobile Plant

From 15 to 21 August 1981, Pontiac fever affected 317 automobile assembly plant workers. Results of serologic tests were negative for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, respiratory tract viruses, and previously described legionellae. A gram-negative, rod-shaped organism (WO-44C) that did not grow on blood agar, required L-cysteine for growth, and contained large amounts of branched-chain fatty acids was isolated from a water-based coolant. The organism did not react with antisera against other legionellae, and on DNA hybridization the organism was less than 10% related to other Legionella species. Geometric mean titers found by indirect fluorescent antibody testing to WO-44C were significantly higher in ill employees than in controls (p = 0.0001). Attack rates by department decreased linearly with the departments distance from the implicated coolant system. The etiologic agent apparently was a new Legionella species; we propose the name Legionella feeleii species nova (AATC 35072). This is the first outbreak of nonpneumonic legionellosis in which the etiologic agent is not L. pneumophila, serogroup 1.

Photofission-Based, Nuclear Material Detection: Technology Demonstration

The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the Advanced Research and Applications Corporation (ARACOR) [Sunnyvale, California] performed a photonuclear technology demonstration for shielded nuclear material detection during August 21–22, 2002, at the LANL TA-18 facility. The demonstration used the Pulsed Photonuclear Assessment Technique (PPAT) that focused on the application of a photofission-based, nuclear material detection method as a viable complement to the ARACOR Eagle inspection platform. The Eagle is a mobile and fully operational truck and cargo inspection system that uses a 6-MeV electron accelerator to perform real-time radiography. This imaging is performed using an approved “radiation-safe” or “cabinet safe” operation relative to the operators, inspectors, and any stowaways within the inspected vehicles. While the PPAT has been primarily developed for active interrogation, its neutron detection system also maintains a complete and effective passive detection capability.

Laser-Compton scattering as a tool for electron beam diagnostics

Laser-Compton scattering (LCS) experiments were carried out at the Idaho Accelerator Center (ICA) using the 5 ns (FWHM) and 22 MeV electron beam. The electron beam was brought to an approximate head-on collision with a 7 ns (FWHM), 10 Hz, 29 MW peak power Nd:YAG laser. We observed clear and narrow X-ray peaks resulting from the interaction of relativistic electrons with the 532 nm Nd:YAG laser second harmonic line on top of a very low bremsstrahlung background. We have developed a method of using LCS as a non-intercepting electron beam monitor. Unlike the method used by Leemans et al. ( 1996 ), our method focused on the variation of the shape of the LCS spectrum rather than the LCS intensity as a function of the observation angle in order to extract the electron beam parameters at the interaction region. The electron beam parameters were determined by making simultaneous fits to spectra taken across the LCS X-ray cone. We also used the variation of LCS X-ray peak energy and spectral width as a function of the detector angles to determine the electron beam angular spread, and direction and compared the results to the previous method. Experimental data show that in addition to being viewed as potential bright, tunable and monochromatic X-ray source, LCS can provide important information on electron beam pulse length, direction, energy, angular, and energy spread. Since the quality of LCS X-ray peaks, such as degree of monochromaticity, peak energy and flux, depends strongly on the electron beam parameters, LCS can therefore be viewed as an important non-destructive means for electron beam diagnostics.

Passive and Active Radiation Measurements Capability at the INL Zero Power Physics Reactor (ZPPR) Facility

The Zero Power Physics Reactor (ZPPR) facility is a Department of Energy facility located in the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Materials and Fuels Complex. It contains various nuclear and non-nuclear materials that are available to support many radiation measurement assessments. User-selected, single material, nuclear and non-nuclear materials can be readily utilized with ZPPR clamshell containers with almost no criticality concerns. If custom, multi-material configurations are desired, the ZPPR clamshell or an approved aluminum Inspection Object (IO) Box container may be utilized, yet each specific material configuration will require a criticality assessment. As an example of the specialized material configurations possible, the National Nuclear Security Agency’s Office of Nuclear Verification (NNSA/NA 243) has sponsored the assembly of six material configurations. These are shown in the Appendixes and have been designated for semi-permanent storage that can be available to support various radiation measurement applications.

Development of an Intense Pulsed Characteristic γ-Ray Source for Active Interrogation of Special Nuclear Material

An intense source of characteristic gamma-rays is developed as a potential probe to identify special nuclear material. A pinch-reflex ion diode is operated on the Gamble II pulsed power generator to produce proton beams with 270-kA peak current and 2.0-MV peak voltage. These beams bombard a PTFE (Teflon) target to produce characteristic gamma-rays by the 19F(p,alphagamma)16O reaction with energies of 6.13, 6.92, and 7.12 MeV and with an intensity of 3.1x1011 gamma-rays into 4pi in a single 50-ns duration pulse. Simple ballistic transport is used to transport the proton beam one meter so that the gamma-ray signal is separated in time and space from the diode bremsstrahlung pulse.

Detection of Special Nuclear Material by means of promptly emitted radiation following photonuclear stimulation

Techniques have been developed to exploit abundant prompt emissions from photonuclear reactions for the identification of special nuclear material (SNM). These enhancements are designed to reduce inspections times and delivered dose in systems which have, historically, relied solely on delayed emissions. Experimental evidence is presented for prompt neutron time-of-flight measurements, neutron/photon correlations in multiple detectors, and novel detector development, specifically LaBr3 scintillators with new gating and buffering circuits to identify prompt gamma signatures. Significant and specific signatures indicative of the presence of SNM can be distinguished for the prompt neutron time-of-flight experiment and the neutron/photon correlations in multiple detectors.

Active nuclear material detection and imaging

An experimental evaluation has been conducted to assess the operational performance of a coded-aperture, thermal neutron imaging system and its detection and imaging capability for shielded nuclear material in pulsed photonuclear environments. This evaluation used an imaging system developed by Brookhaven National Laboratory. The active photonuclear environment was produced by an operationally-flexible, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) pulsed electron accelerator. The neutron environments were monitored using INL photonuclear neutron detectors. Results include experimental images, operational imaging system assessments and recommendations that would enhance nuclear material detection and imaging performance.

Fast digitization and discrimination of prompt neutron and photon signals using a novel silicon carbide detector

Current requirements of some Homeland Security active interrogation projects for the detection of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) necessitate the development of faster inspection and acquisition capabilities. In order to do so, fast detectors which can operate during and shortly after intense interrogation radiation flashes are being developed. Novel silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor Schottky diodes have been utilized as robust neutron and photon detectors in both pulsed photon and pulsed neutron fields and are being integrated into active inspection environments to allow exploitation of both prompt and delayed emissions. These detectors have demonstrated the capability of detecting both photon and neutron events during intense photon flashes typical of an active inspection environment. Beyond the inherent insensitivity of SiC to gamma radiation, fast digitization and processing has demonstrated that pulse shape discrimination (PSD) in combination with amplitude discrimination can further suppress unwanted gamma signals and extract fast neutron signatures. Usable neutron signals have been extracted from mixed radiation fields where the background has exceeded the signals of interest by >1000:1.

ARACOR Eagle-matched Operations and Neutron Detector Performance Tests

A test campaign was undertaken during April 16-19 in LaHonda, California to match the operational performance of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL)Varitron accelerator to that of an ARACOR Eagle accelerator. This Eagle-matched condition, with the INEEL Varitron, will be used during a concept demonstration test at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This operational characterization involved the use of similar electron beam energies, similar production of photoneutrons from selected non-nuclear materials, and similar production of photofissionbased, delayed neutrons from an INEEL-provided, depleted uranium sample. Then using the matched operation, the Varitron was used to define detector performances for several INEEL and LANL detectors using the depleted uranium target and Eagle-like, bremsstrahlung collimation. This summary report provides neutron measurements using the INEEL detectors. All delayed neutron data are acquired in the time interval ranging from 4.95 to 19.9 ms after each accelerator pulse. All prompt neutron data are acquired during 0.156 to 4.91 ms after each accelerator pulse. Prompt and delayed neutron counting acquisition intervals can still be optimized.

An Accelerator-Based Epithermal Photoneutron Source for BNCT

Therapeutically-useful epithermal-neutron beams for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) are currently generated by nuclear reactors. Various accelerator-based neutron sources1–3 for BNCT have been proposed and some low-intensity prototypes of such sources, generally featuring the use of proton beams and beryllium or lithium targets have been constructed. Scaling of most of these proton devices for therapeutic applications will require the resolution of some rather difficult issues associated with target cooling. This paper describes an alternate approach to the realization of a clinically-useful accelerator-based source of epithermal neutrons for BNCT that reconciles the often-conflicting objectives of target cooling, neutron beam intensity, and neutron beam spectral purity via a two-stage photoneutron production process.