Optimization of a 9 MeV electron accelerator Bremsstrahlung flux for photofission-based assay techniques using PHITS and MCNP6 Monte Carlo codes

Photofission-based active non-destructive assay is a promising technique for nuclear waste characterization. The latter is challenging due to the presence of actinides, fission products and non-homogeneous matrix. This paper presents an optimization study of a 9 MeV linear electron accelerator used as a source of Bremsstrahlung photons for such photofission applications. The primary focus is made on qualitative and quantitative assessment of the Bremsstrahlung flux, timing characteristics and reduction of background neutrons. Assessment is conducted using Monte Carlo simulations in particle transport codes PHITS and MCNP6 with an objective to compare the simulation results. Our results demonstrate a good agreement between the simulation results of both codes. However, for an effective application of the photofission technique for nuclear waste assay, a careful selection of the target material and introduction of parasitic neutron suppression techniques are necessary. Analysis routines and simulation procedures are described in detail and results are presented.