A Germanium Detector with Optimized Compton Veto for High Sensitivity at Low Energy
We have built a prototype germanium detector with a Compton veto that is optimized for high sensitivity in the low-energy range around {approx}100 keV. It is specifically designed to address the problem to directly detect plutonium gamma emissions in spent nuclear fuel by non-destructive assay. This is not possible with current detectors due to the large low-energy background of Compton-scattered high-energy radiation from the fission products, whose gamma flux is at least 6 to 7 orders of magnitude higher than the Pu signal. Our instrument is designed to assess the feasibility to selectively suppress the background in the low-energy region around {approx}100 keV with the strongest Pu X-ray and gamma emissions lines. It employs a thin Ge detector with a large Compton veto directly behind it to suppress the background from forward-scattered radiation by anti-coincidence vetoing. This report summarizes the design considerations and the performance of the instrument.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 1033733
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-TR-518852; TRN: US1200655
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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DESIGN
FISSION PRODUCTS
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PERFORMANCE
PLUTONIUM-GAMMA
RADIATIONS
SENSITIVITY
SPENT FUELS