Measurement of 37Ar to support technology for On-site Inspection under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 652(1):58-61

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2010.09.135· OSTI ID:1025653

Aalseth, Craig E.; Day, Anthony R.; Haas, Derek A.; Hoppe, Eric W.; Hyronimus, Brian J.; Keillor, Martin E.; Mace, Emily K.; Orrell, John L.; Seifert, Allen; Woods, Vincent T.

On-Site Inspection (OSI) is a key component of the verification regime for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Measurements of radionuclide isotopes created by an underground nuclear explosion are a valuable signature of a Treaty violation. Argon-37 is produced from neutron interaction with calcium in soil, 40Ca(n,α)37Ar. For OSI, the 35-day half-life of 37Ar provides both high specific activity and sufficient time for completion of an inspection before decay limits sensitivity. This paper presents a low-background internal-source gas proportional counter with an 37Ar measurement sensitivity level equivalent to 45.1 mBq/SCM in whole air.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1025653
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-73256
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 652(1):58-61, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 652(1):58-61 Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 652
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CTBT On-site Inspection
Low energy threshold proportional counter
Nuclear weapons monitoring
Radioactive argon isotopes