A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes

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

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.044

Title: A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes

Abstract

The design of a radioxenon detection system utilizing a CdZeTe crystal and a plastic scintillator coupled to an array of SiPMs to conduct beta-gamma coincidence detection for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring, as well as the measurement of ¹³⁵Xe and ^133/133mXe, have been detailed previously. This paper presents recent measurements of ^133/133mXe and ^131mXe and the observation of conversion electrons in their coincidence spectra, as well as a 48-hour background measurement to calculate the Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) of radioxenon isotopes in the system. The identification of Regions of Interest (ROIs) in the coincidence spectra yielded from the radioxenon measurements, and the subsequent calculation of the MDCs of the system for ¹³⁵Xe, ^133/133mXe, and ^131mXe, are also discussed. Calculated MDCs show that the detection system preforms respectably when compared to other state of the art radioxenon detection systems and achieved an MDC of less than 1 mBq/m³ for ^131mXe, ¹³³Xe, and ^133mXe, in accordance with limits set by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBTO). Lastly, the system also provides the advantage of room temperature operation, compactness, low noise operation and having simple readout electronics.

Authors:

Czyz, Steven A. ^[1]; Farsoni, Abi T. ^[1]; Ranjbar, Lily ^[1]

Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). School of Nuclear Science and Engineering

Publication Date:: Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 EST 2017

Research Org.:: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation; USDOE NA Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22)

OSTI Identifier:: 1487106

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1454829; OSTI ID: 1692061

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0002534

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 884; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Radioxenon; Beta-Gamma Coincidence; Coplanar CZT; SiPMs; Nuclear Explosion Monitoring; Beta-gamma coincidence; Nuclear explosion monitoring

Citation Formats


                    Czyz, Steven A., Farsoni, Abi T., and Ranjbar, Lily. A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes.  United States: N. p., 2017. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.044.

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                    Czyz, Steven A., Farsoni, Abi T., & Ranjbar, Lily. A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.044

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                    Czyz, Steven A., Farsoni, Abi T., and Ranjbar, Lily. Mon .  
"A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.044.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1487106.

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@article{osti_1487106,

  title        = {A prototype detection system for atmospheric monitoring of xenon radioisotopes},

  author       = {Czyz, Steven A. and Farsoni, Abi T. and Ranjbar, Lily},

  abstractNote = {The design of a radioxenon detection system utilizing a CdZeTe crystal and a plastic scintillator coupled to an array of SiPMs to conduct beta-gamma coincidence detection for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring, as well as the measurement of 135Xe and 133/133mXe, have been detailed previously. This paper presents recent measurements of 133/133mXe and 131mXe and the observation of conversion electrons in their coincidence spectra, as well as a 48-hour background measurement to calculate the Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC) of radioxenon isotopes in the system. The identification of Regions of Interest (ROIs) in the coincidence spectra yielded from the radioxenon measurements, and the subsequent calculation of the MDCs of the system for 135Xe, 133/133mXe, and 131mXe, are also discussed. Calculated MDCs show that the detection system preforms respectably when compared to other state of the art radioxenon detection systems and achieved an MDC of less than 1 mBq/m3 for 131mXe, 133Xe, and 133mXe, in accordance with limits set by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBTO). Lastly, the system also provides the advantage of room temperature operation, compactness, low noise operation and having simple readout electronics.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.nima.2017.10.044},

  journal      = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 884,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 EST 2017},

  month        = {Mon Nov 06 00:00:00 EST 2017}

}

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Cited by: 10 works

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Figures / Tables:

Table 1: Coincident radioxenon decays of interest [13]

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