Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have combined the nuclear analysis code SAMMY with high-resolution neutron transmission measurements from the Versatile Neutron Imaging Instrument (VENUS) to develop a new approach for non-destructive assay (NDA) testing.
The integration of the two technologies enables characterization and verification of nuclear materials without dismantling or damaging potentially hazardous samples, supporting applications across nuclear science and national security.
The collaboration brings together SAMMY, one of the leading nuclear analysis codes used for evaluating nuclear data, with VENUS, ORNL’s advanced neutron imaging instrument capable of high-resolution neutron transmission measurements.
“It’s a perfect match, not just between two technologies, SAMMY and VENUS, but between the people and capabilities here at ORNL,” said Luiz Leal, the report’s lead author and a distinguished R&D staff member in the Nuclear Data Group at ORNL. “By teaming up the right partners, we’ve identified a new mechanism for NDA testing with applications across nuclear science and national security.”
Non-destructive assay testing plays a critical role in the identification and evaluation of nuclear materials while avoiding destructive examination methods. The approach is particularly important in applications involving radioactive or hazardous samples where maintaining material integrity is essential.
According to ORNL researchers, nuclear data serves as the foundation of nuclear science, supporting reactor operations, material analysis, and the modeling of advanced nuclear systems. Evaluated nuclear data libraries contain measurements related to thousands of nuclear isotopes, including decay constants, fission yields, and resonance data.
Nuclear analysis tools such as SAMMY enable scientists and engineers to use this data for accurate modeling and simulation of nuclear system performance.
“ORNL has a long history of measuring and evaluating nuclear data,” Leal said. “SAMMY has been a key tool for reconciling nuclear theory with actual measurements for nearly three decades. Ever since it was developed at ORNL, it’s been a leading contributor of nuclear resonance data.”
Researchers noted that the combined use of SAMMY and VENUS creates new opportunities for advanced non-destructive testing and nuclear material verification, leveraging ORNL’s expertise in neutron imaging, nuclear data evaluation, and analytical modeling.
The development highlights the growing role of advanced computational tools and high-resolution measurement systems in modern non-destructive testing applications, particularly in sectors involving nuclear infrastructure, research, and national security.
Reference: https://www.miragenews.com/sammy-venus-team-up-for-new-non-destructive-1681416/
