Sampled data spectroscopy (SDS): A new technology for radiation instrumentation

Conference · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:6577099

Odell, D M.C.

A new instrumentation architecture for radiation spectroscopy is in the early stages of development at Savannah River. Based upon the same digital sampling techniques used in sonar and radar, sampled data spectroscopy (SDS) has produced Na(I)/PMT spectra with resolution comparable to conventional PHA systems. This work has laid the foundation for extending SDS techniques to solid state detector applications as well. Two-dimensional SDS processes raw, unintegrated detector output pulses to produce both energy and shape information that is used to construct a conventional energy spectrum. System advantages include zero electronic deadtime to support very high count rates, elimination of pulse pile-up peaks, high noise immunity, and digital system stability and reliability. Small size and low power requirements make 2-D SDS anideal technology for portable instrumentation and remote monitoring applications. Applications of potential interest at Savannah River include on-the-spot spill analysis, real-time waste stream monitoring, and personnel and area monitoring below background levels. A three-dimensional sampled data architecture is also being developed. Relying on image analysis and enhancement techniques, 3-D SDS identifies spectral peaks without determining the energy of any individual detector pulses. These techniques also open up a new avenue of exploration for reducing or removing Compton effects from the spectra of single detector systems. The intended application for this technique is waste characterization where lower energy isotopes are often obscured by the Compton scattering from dominant isotopes such as Csl37.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 6577099
• Report Number(s): WSRC-MS-92-331; CONF-930205-58; ON: DE93012134
• Resource Relation: Conference: Waste management '93, Tucson, AZ (United States), 28 Feb - 4 Mar 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
RADIATION MONITORING
WASTE MANAGEMENT
COMPTON EFFECT
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
RADAR
SAMPLING
SCINTILLATIONS
SOLID STATE PHYSICS
SONAR
SPECTROSCOPY
ANIMALS
BASIC INTERACTIONS
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
INTERACTIONS
MAMMALS
MAN
MANAGEMENT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PHYSICS
PRIMATES
RANGE FINDERS
SAFETY
SCATTERING
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
052000* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management