A Figure-of-Merit for Beta Cell Detector Characterization

Technical Report · Wed Sep 02 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1258732· OSTI ID:1258732

Foxe, Michael P. ^[1]; Miller, Brian W. ^[1]; Suarez, Rey ^[1]; Hayes, James C. ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

In order to decrease the minimum detectable activities (MDAs) of beta-gamma radioxenon detectors, it is important to increase the ability to resolve the individual isotopes. One proposed method for doing this is to increase the energy resolution of the beta cell through the use of silicon detectors. While silicon detectors can improve the energy resolution, it is accompanied with a decrease in detection efficiency compared to plastic scintillator beta cells. Due to the uncertainty on the impact of the competing variables, we have developed a figure-of-merit (FOM) capable of determining the impact of detector parameters on the MDAs. By utilizing the FOM to analyze different detectors, we are able to directly compare current and future detectors and estimate their impact on the radioxenon MDAs.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1258732
• Report Number(s): PNNL-24760; DN2003000; TRN: US1601520
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
SI SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ENERGY RESOLUTION
PERFORMANCE
PLASTIC SCINTILLATION DETECTORS
DETECTION
EFFICIENCY
BETA DETECTION
XENON 131
XENON 133
Beta Cell
Detector Characterization
PNNL