Application

Growing concerns about the possible diversion of fissile material to non-peaceful use has increased the importance of verification measurements of enriched uranium. The opening of large inventories of uranium for international inspection has increased the activities of international and domestic safeguards organizations that are required to establish or verify these inventories. A single, modern instrument that can perform accurate and rapid uranium verification measurements in laboratories, industrial environments, or outside using various detector configurations is needed to support these activities.

The determination of the enrichment of uranium has historically been performed by bulky, heavy analyzers using cumbersome analysis software. Setup, calibration, analysis, measurement control, and reporting of results were all performed manually using written procedures or hand written log sheets. Low resolution based systems using NaI detectors were limited to using individually temperature matched detectors to a unique analyzer. Performing energy calibration, pole/zero compensation, etc., required skilled and highly trained operators. The bulky equipment was transportable but far from portable.

The IMCA is a portable instrument designed specifically to overcome these deficiencies, and it also possesses a high degree of automation. The instrument uses the uranium enrichment meter principle, and is designed to meet the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria, requirements for the verification of enriched uranium materials. The IMCA is available with MGA plutonium isotopic analysis software or MGAU uranium analysis software as well. It can change quickly between NaI, LEGe and CdTe detector types, and is designed and manufactured using sophisticated electronics under an ISO 9001 compliant quality system. The IMCA provides laboratory grade measurement capability for laboratory use, but operates routinely in harsh environments