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

Abstract

The PIPS–SrI2(Eu) is a prototype atmospheric radioxenon detection system designed at Oregon State University in support of international efforts towards monitoring clandestine nuclear weapon testing activities. This detector aims to address some shortcomings found in currently deployed beta–gamma atmospheric radioxenon detection systems, such as lackluster energy resolution and memory effect, by employing modern detection materials and readout. The system uses a PIPSBox, a silicon-based gas cell, for electron detection, and a pair of ultrabright, D-shaped SrI2(Eu) scintillators coupled to silicon photomultipliers for photon detection. A custom eight-channel digital pulse processor equipped with a field programmable gate-array (FPGA) identifies electron–photon coincidences between the volumes in near real-time. Gas samples of the four radioxenon isotopes of interest were independently measured with the PIPS–SrI2(Eu) detection system to determine energy resolution and efficiency. Application of FPGA-based coincidence discrimination in near real-time reduced the ambient background count rate by 95.85 ± 0.04%. Using parameters from the Xenon International gas processing unit and assuming a blank sample and zero memory effect the minimum detectable concentrations (MDCs) for the isotopes were calculated to be 0.12 ± 0.03, 0.27 ± 0.05, 0.15 ± 0.02, and 1.00 ± 0.08 mBq/m3 air for 131mXe, 133Xe, 133mXe, and 135Xe, respectively. Thesemore » MDC estimates compare well with other radioxenon detection systems employed in the International Monitoring System (IMS) and indicate that the PIPS–SrI2(Eu) is in compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) sensitivity requirement of ≤ 1 mBq/m3 for 133Xe.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
  2. Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1814097
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-817454
Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002; 1022100; TRN: US2213401
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344; 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: 1012; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; Radioxenon; Beta-Gamma Coincidence; PIPSBox; SrI2(Eu); Nuclear Explosion Monitoring; CTBTO

Citation Formats

Czyz, Steven A., Farsoni, Abi. T., and Gadey, Harish R. A PIPS + SrI2(Eu) detector for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring. United States: N. p., 2021. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2021.165619.
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Czyz, Steven A., Farsoni, Abi. T., & Gadey, Harish R. A PIPS + SrI2(Eu) detector for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165619
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Czyz, Steven A., Farsoni, Abi. T., and Gadey, Harish R. Thu . "A PIPS + SrI2(Eu) detector for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165619. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1814097.
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@article{osti_1814097,
title = {A PIPS + SrI2(Eu) detector for atmospheric radioxenon monitoring},
author = {Czyz, Steven A. and Farsoni, Abi. T. and Gadey, Harish R.},
abstractNote = {The PIPS–SrI2(Eu) is a prototype atmospheric radioxenon detection system designed at Oregon State University in support of international efforts towards monitoring clandestine nuclear weapon testing activities. This detector aims to address some shortcomings found in currently deployed beta–gamma atmospheric radioxenon detection systems, such as lackluster energy resolution and memory effect, by employing modern detection materials and readout. The system uses a PIPSBox, a silicon-based gas cell, for electron detection, and a pair of ultrabright, D-shaped SrI2(Eu) scintillators coupled to silicon photomultipliers for photon detection. A custom eight-channel digital pulse processor equipped with a field programmable gate-array (FPGA) identifies electron–photon coincidences between the volumes in near real-time. Gas samples of the four radioxenon isotopes of interest were independently measured with the PIPS–SrI2(Eu) detection system to determine energy resolution and efficiency. Application of FPGA-based coincidence discrimination in near real-time reduced the ambient background count rate by 95.85 ± 0.04%. Using parameters from the Xenon International gas processing unit and assuming a blank sample and zero memory effect the minimum detectable concentrations (MDCs) for the isotopes were calculated to be 0.12 ± 0.03, 0.27 ± 0.05, 0.15 ± 0.02, and 1.00 ± 0.08 mBq/m3 air for 131mXe, 133Xe, 133mXe, and 135Xe, respectively. These MDC estimates compare well with other radioxenon detection systems employed in the International Monitoring System (IMS) and indicate that the PIPS–SrI2(Eu) is in compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) sensitivity requirement of ≤ 1 mBq/m3 for 133Xe.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2021.165619},
journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
number = ,
volume = 1012,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2021},
month = {Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2021}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165619
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