A stilbene–strontium iodide based radioxenon detection system for monitoring nuclear explosions

Gadey, Harish Reddy; Farsoni, Abi T.; Czyz, Steven A.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2022.166427

Title: A stilbene–strontium iodide based radioxenon detection system for monitoring nuclear explosions

Journal Article · 09 February 2022 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.166427 · OSTI ID:1855968

Gadey, Harish Reddy ^[1]; Farsoni, Abi T. ^[2]; Czyz, Steven A. ^[3]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Atmospheric measurement of noble gases has been extensively used for monitoring clandestine nuclear weapon explosions for many years. The ratios of four xenon isotopes of interest (¹³¹mXe, ¹³³mXe, ¹³³Xe, and ¹³⁵Xe) help in discriminating regular reactor operations from nuclear tests. A new coincidence-based detection system using stilbene and strontium iodide [SrI₂(Eu)] for electron and photon detection respectively was developed at Oregon State University to address some of the challenges of the radioxenon systems deployed in the field such as memory effect, and poor energy resolution. Silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) were used for sensing optical photons from all scintillation media. Real-time coincidence identification was achieved using the eight-channel digital pulse processor. The detection system was evaluated using lab check sources and Oregon State TRIGA reactor irradiated radioxenon samples. A 48-hour background coincidence spectrum was collected yielding a coincidence count rate and background rejection rate of 0.0174 ± 0.0003 counts per second (cps) and 98.9% respectively. The minimum detectable concentration (MDC) of the system was evaluated to be 0.11 ± 0.01, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.20 ± 0.02, and 0.73 ± 0.08 for ¹³¹mXe, ¹³³mXe, ¹³³Xe, and ¹³⁵Xe respectively. The memory effect of the detection system was found to be 0.069 ± 0.015%, which is almost a 70-fold reduction compared to traditional plastic scintillators. Here, the detection elements, custom-designed electronics, and the detector response to radioxenon are detailed in this work.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830; NA0002534

OSTI ID:: 1855968

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA-167137

Journal Information:: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Vol. 1029; ISSN 0168-9002

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (41)

Automated separation and measurement of radioxenon for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Bowyer, T. W.; Abel, K. H.; Hubbard, C. W. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 235, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02385941	journal	September 1998
Backtracking of Noble Gas Measurements Taken in the Aftermath of the Announced October 2006 Event in North Korea by Means of PTS Methods in Nuclear Source Estimation and Reconstruction Becker, Andreas; Wotawa, Gerhard; Ringbom, Anders Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 167, Issue 4-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-009-0025-0	journal	December 2009
Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT Auer, Matthias; Kumberg, Timo; Sartorius, Hartmut Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 167, Issue 4-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-009-0027-y	journal	January 2010
Detection of Noble Gas Radionuclides from an Underground Nuclear Explosion During a CTBT On-Site Inspection Carrigan, Charles R.; Sun, Yunwei Pure and Applied Geophysics, Vol. 171, Issue 3-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-012-0563-8	journal	August 2012
Measuring Low Activities of Fission-Product Xenon Isotopes Using the β-γ Coincidence Method Popov, Yu. S.; Kazarinov, N. M.; Popov, V. Yu. Instruments and Experimental Techniques, Vol. 48, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10786-005-0066-2	journal	May 2005
Novel beta-gamma coincidence measurements using phoswich detectors Ely, J. H.; Aalseth, C. E.; McIntyre, J. I. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 263, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-005-0044-y	journal	January 2005
Contribution to the development of atmospheric radioxenon monitoring Le Petit, G.; Armand, P.; Brachet, G. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 276, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-008-0517-x	journal	May 2008
Development of a phoswich detector system for radioxenon monitoring Hennig, W.; Warburton, W. K.; Fallu-Labruyere, A. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 282, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0181-9	journal	July 2009
Measurements of radioxenon in ground level air in South Korea following the claimed nuclear test in North Korea on October 9, 2006 Ringbom, A.; Elmgren, Klas; Lindh, Karin Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 282, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0271-8	journal	July 2009
Study of silicon detectors for high resolution radioxenon measurements Hennig, Wolfgang; Cox, Christopher E.; Asztalos, Stephen J. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 296, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2053-y	journal	August 2012
Atomic layer deposition α-Al2O3 diffusion barriers to eliminate the memory effect in beta-gamma radioxenon detectors Warburton, W. K.; Hennig, Wolfgang; Bertrand, Jacob A. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 296, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2061-y	journal	August 2012
A well-type phoswich detector for nuclear explosion monitoring Alemayehu, B.; Farsoni, A. T.; Ranjbar, L. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 301, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3182-2	journal	May 2014
A CZT-based radioxenon detection system in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Ranjbar, Lily; Farsoni, Abi T.; Becker, Eric M. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 310, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4872-8	journal	May 2016
A radioxenon detection system using CdZnTe, an array of SiPMs, and a plastic scintillator Czyz, Steven A.; Farsoni, Abi T. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 313, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5287-x	journal	May 2017
A review of the developments of radioxenon detectors for nuclear explosion monitoring Sivels, Ciara B.; McIntyre, Justin I.; Bowyer, Theodore W. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 314, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5489-2	journal	September 2017
SAUNA—a system for automatic sampling, processing, and analysis of radioactive xenon Ringbom, A.; Larson, T.; Axelsson, A. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 508, Issue 3, p. 542-553 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(03)01657-7	journal	August 2003
Detection and analysis of xenon isotopes for the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty international monitoring system Bowyer, T. W.; Schlosser, C.; Abel, K. H. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 59, Issue 2, p. 139-151 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0265-931X(01)00042-X	journal	January 2002
Notes on radioxenon measurements for CTBT verification purposes Saey, P. R. J.; De Geer, L. -E. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 63, Issue 5-6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2005.05.035	journal	November 2005
Radioxenon monitoring in Beijing following the Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident Shilian, Wang; Qi, Li; Qinghua, Meng Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 81 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2013.03.049	journal	November 2013
Spalax™ new generation: A sensitive and selective noble gas system for nuclear explosion monitoring Le Petit, G.; Cagniant, A.; Gross, P. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 103 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2015.05.019	journal	September 2015
Global radioxenon emission inventory based on nuclear power reactor reports Kalinowski, Martin B.; Tuma, Matthias P. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 100, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2008.10.015	journal	January 2009
Elevated radioxenon detected remotely following the Fukushima nuclear accident Bowyer, T. W.; Biegalski, S. R.; Cooper, M. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 102, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.04.009	journal	July 2011
Detection of radioxenon in Darwin, Australia following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident Orr, Blake; Schöppner, Michael; Tinker, Rick Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 126 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.07.002	journal	December 2013
Radioxenon detections in the CTBT international monitoring system likely related to the announced nuclear test in North Korea on February 12, 2013 Ringbom, A.; Axelsson, A.; Aldener, M. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 128 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.027	journal	February 2014
135Xe measurements with a two-element CZT-based radioxenon detector for nuclear explosion monitoring Ranjbar, Lily; Farsoni, Abi T.; Becker, Eric M. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 169-170 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.12.003	journal	April 2017
A stilbene - CdZnTe based radioxenon detection system Gadey, Harish R.; Farsoni, Abi T.; Czyz, Steven A. Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 204 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.03.027	journal	August 2019
Redesigned β–γ radioxenon detector Cooper, Matthew W.; McIntyre, Justin I.; Bowyer, Ted W. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 579, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2007.04.092	journal	August 2007
Investigations of surface coatings to reduce memory effect in plastic scintillator detectors used for radioxenon detection Bläckberg, L.; Fay, A.; Jõgi, I. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 656, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2011.07.038	journal	November 2011
Memory effect, resolution, and efficiency measurements of an Al2O3 coated plastic scintillator used for radioxenon detection Bläckberg, L.; Fritioff, T.; Mårtensson, L. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 714 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.02.045	journal	June 2013
Single channel beta–gamma coincidence system for radioxenon measurement using well-type HPGe and plastic scintillator detectors Xie, Feng; Jiang, Wengang; Li, Xuesong Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 729 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.08.070	journal	November 2013
A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes Czyz, Steven A.; Farsoni, Abi T.; Ranjbar, Lily Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 884 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.044	journal	March 2018
Stilbene cell development to improve radioxenon detection Sivels, Ciara B.; McIntyre, Justin I.; Prinke, Amanda M. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 923 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.01.022	journal	April 2019
Evaluation of a semiconductor-based atmospheric radioxenon detection system Czyz, Steven A.; Farsoni, Abi T.; Gadey, Harish R. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 945 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.162614	journal	November 2019
A PIPS + SrI2(Eu) detector for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring Czyz, Steven A.; Farsoni, Abi. T.; Gadey, Harish R. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 1012 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165619	journal	October 2021
Development of a radioxenon measurement system and its application in monitoring Fukushima nuclear accident Xie, Feng; He, Xiaobing; Jiang, Wengang Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Vol. 97 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2013.11.011	journal	April 2014
INGAS: Iranian Noble Gas Analyzing System for radioxenon measurement Doost-Mohammadi, V.; Afarideh, H.; Etaati, G. R. Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Vol. 120 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.10.020	journal	March 2016
Measurements of ambient radioxenon levels using the automated radioxenon sampler/analyzer (ARSA) McIntyre, J. I.; Abel, K. H.; Bowyer, T. W. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 248, Issue 3, p. 629-635 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010672107749	journal	January 2001
A long distance measurement of radioxenon in Yellowknife, Canada, in late October 2006 Saey, P. R. J.; Bean, M.; Becker, A. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 34, Issue 20 https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL030611	journal	January 2007
Trace gas emissions on geological faults as indicators of underground nuclear testing Carrigan, C. R.; Heinle, R. A.; Hudson, G. B. Nature, Vol. 382, Issue 6591 https://doi.org/10.1038/382528a0	journal	August 1996
Absolute Efficiency Calibration of a Beta-Gamma Detector Cooper, Matthew W.; Ely, James H.; Haas, Derek A. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Vol. 60, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2013.2243165	journal	April 2013
The ARIX-03F mobile semiautomatic facility for measuring low concentrations of radioactive xenon isotopes in air and subsoil gas Prelovskii, V. V.; Kazarinov, N. M.; Donets, A. Yu. Instruments and Experimental Techniques, Vol. 50, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1134/S0020441207030165	journal	May 2007

Similar Records

A stilbene - CdZnTe based radioxenon detection system

Journal Article · 2019 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity · OSTI ID:1525299

Gadey, Harish R.; Farsoni, Abi T.; Czyz, Steven A.; +1 more

A PIPS + SrI₂(Eu) detector for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring

Journal Article · 2021 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment · OSTI ID:1814097

Czyz, Steven A.; Farsoni, Abi. T.; Gadey, Harish R.

A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes

Journal Article · 2017 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment · OSTI ID:1454829

Czyz, Steven A.; Farsoni, Abi T.; Ranjbar, Lily

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CTBT
Coincidence detection
Nuclear explosion monitoring
Radioxenon
SrI2(Eu)
Stilbene

Title: A stilbene–strontium iodide based radioxenon detection system for monitoring nuclear explosions

Citation Formats

References (41)

Similar Records

Related Subjects