Improving Spectroscopic Performance of a Coplanar-Anode High-Pressure Xenon Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

Journal Article · Sat Aug 04 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 54(4):1263-1270

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2007.903187· OSTI ID:920955

Kiff, Scott D; He, Zhong; Tepper, Gary C

High-pressure xenon (HPXe) gas is a desirable radiation detection medium for homeland security applications because of its good inherent room-temperature energy resolution, potential for large, efficient devices, and stability over a broad temperature range. Past work in HPXe has produced large-diameter gridded ionization chambers with energy resolution at 662 keV between 3.5 and 4% FWHM. However, one major limitation of these detectors is resolution degradation due to Frisch grid microphonics. A coplanar-anode HPXe detector has been developed as an alternative to gridded chambers. An investigation of this detector’s energy resolution is reported in this submission. A simulation package is used to investigate the contributions of important physical processes to the measured photopeak broadening. Experimental data is presented for pure Xe and Xe+0.2%H2 mixtures, including an analysis of interaction location effects on the energy spectrum.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 920955
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-56055
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 54(4):1263-1270, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 54(4):1263-1270 Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 54; ISSN 0018-9499; ISSN IETNAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ENERGY RESOLUTION
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
PERFORMANCE
SECURITY
XENON
coplanar anodes
gas detectors
high-pressure xenon
ionization chambers
position sensing
single-polarity charge sensing