Analysis of 127Xe tracer measurements using a net counts method

Goodwin, Matthew A.; Chester, Daniel L.; Galvin, Graham; Eslinger, Paul W.; Foxe, Michael P.; Ely, James; Turley, Reagan

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107623

Analysis of ¹²⁷Xe tracer measurements using a net counts method

Journal Article · Tue Feb 04 04:00:00 EST 2025 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2025.107623· OSTI ID:2544190

Goodwin, Matthew A. ^[1]; Chester, Daniel L. ^[1]; Galvin, Graham ^[1]; Eslinger, Paul W. ^[2]; Foxe, Michael P. ^[2]; Ely, James ^[2]; Turley, Reagan ^[3]

Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Berkshire (United Kingdom)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), Santa Barbara, CA (United States)

A suite of measurement systems were deployed as part of the Physical Experiment 1 series of experiments, which involved detonating chemical explosives along with radionuclide tracers in an underground cavity, at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in the United States. One of the radionuclide tracers, ¹²⁷Xe was released from the containment following the explosion and detected on a SAUNA Q_B sampler situated approximately 3.5 km away. The system uses a beta-gamma coincidence detector system to measure fission product radioisotopes of xenon relevant to nuclear explosion monitoring. In this work we use the coincidence measurement data to analyse and interpret the results from the SAUNA Q_B system, to calculate the measured ¹²⁷Xe activity concentration(s).

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Contributing Organization:: PE-1 Experiment Team

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830; NA0003624

OSTI ID:: 2544190

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--210005

Journal Information:: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Vol. 283; ISSN 0265-931X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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