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A new algorithm for estimating radioxenon concentrations

Journal Article · · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity (Online)

A new algorithm (Xcounts) is introduced for estimating the activity concentrations of the xenon isotopes 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe, and 135Xe using beta-gamma coincidence data. The algorithm simultaneously estimates the decay counts associated with the four xenon isotopes, background, and radon in contrast to the net-counts method that uses sequential residual removal to account for background and interreferences. Calibration data for background counts are determined from gas-background measurements and simulation. In Xcounts, the false positive count rates for 131mXe and 133mXe are lower than the false positive rates for 133Xe and 135Xe. This algorithm appears to reliably detect the metastable isotopes at lower activity levels than the net-counts method and have similar performance for the other isotopes.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1907598
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-177825
Journal Information:
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity (Online), Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity (Online) Vol. 258; ISSN 1879-1700
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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