A field-deployable gamma-ray spectrometer utilizing xenon at high pressure

Conference · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:380317

Smith, G C; Mahler, G J; Yu, B; Salwen, C; Kane, W R; Lemley, J R

Prototype gamma-ray spectrometers utilizing xenon gas at high pressure, suitable for applications in the nuclear safeguards, arms control, and nonproliferation communities, have been developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL). These spectrometers function as ambient-temperature ionization chambers detecting gamma rays with good efficiency in the energy range 50 keV - 2 MeV, with an energy resolution intermediate between semiconductor (Ge) and scintillation (NaI) spectrometers. They are capable of prolonged, low-power operation without a requirement for cryogenic fluids or other cooling mechanisms, and with the addition of small quantities of {sup 3}He gas, can function simultaneously as efficient thermal neutron detectors.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 380317
• Report Number(s): BNL--62717; SSN--96-01; CONF-960767--72; ON: DE97000185
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC FIELDS
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
GE SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
SAFEGUARDS
XENON