b'Neutron Diffraction ofFirst-of-a-kind system enables characterization of highly radioactive materials Irradiated Nuclear Fuel that benefits nuclear fuel and materials development programs.D espite the great interest in using neutron scattering techniques in nuclear materials and fuels research, the large-scale user facilities at laboratories worldwide currently do not have the programs, staff, or infrastructure to allow neutron scattering techniques to be applied to highly radioactive samples. Only recently has neutron diffraction started being explored as a tool for neutron TOTAL APPROVED AMOUNT:irradiated materials. Even a rudimentary neutron diffraction capability for highly $1,298,400 over 3 years radioactive nuclear materials would be unique in the world and would introduce PROJECT NUMBER:significant new access to materials science measurements for the discovery and 18P37-007 diagnosis of nuclear material behavior.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:A unique aspect of INL is its ability to routinely handle irradiated nuclear fuels and Chuting Tan materials. A facility that: (1) specializes in handling highly irradiated materials; (2) has the capability to ship and receive highly irradiated materials globally; (3) has CO-INVESTIGATORS: a reactor capable of generating a neutron beam with energies suitable for neutron Aaron Craft, INL scattering techniques; and (4) has an accessible neutron beam in which radioactive Scott Moore, INL samples may be introduced, will enable first-of-a-kind research and international Bryan Chakoumakos,leadership in this area. The neutron beams at INLs Neutron Radiography Reactor Oak Ridge National Laboratory meet these requirements and could enable neutron diffraction of irradiated nuclear Matthias Frontzek,fuels and materials.Oak Ridge National LaboratoryThis research demonstrated a first-of-a-kind proof-of-principle neutron diffraction COLLABORATORS: system for examining highly radioactive materials at INLs Neutron Radiography Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor. The team is pursuing funding to implement the capability at the Materials Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Fuels Complex at INL. This capability will benefit nuclear fuel and materials Technical University of Munich development programs and provide data to benchmark and validate modeling and Los Alamos Neutron Science Center simulation codes that will accelerate the qualification process by requiring fewer experimental measurements.(a) Feasibility study instrumentation in the Neutron RadiographyReactors North Radiography Station. (b) Neutron radiographof a nickel powder standard showing the sample, the incidentneutron beam, and the diffracted beam.18'