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Title: Radioxenons: Their role in monitoring a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Abstract

Monitoring for xenon radionuclides which are produced in a nuclear detonation can provide a strong deterrent to the violation of a Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). There are 18 known radioactive xenon isotopes produced in nuclear fission with half-lives ranging from less than one second to 11.9 days. However, only four of these remain in significant amounts more than a day after a detonation. In order for radioxenon monitoring to be practical, it was necessary to develop an automated measurement system which could operate unattended for periods of months, measure the entire spectrum of radioxenons, and provide hundreds of times better sensitivities than current laboratory procedures. This capability was developed at the US Department of Energy`s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory based on rapid separation of atmospheric xenon coupled with a unique high sensitivity measurement device for the radioxenons. A fieldable prototype analyzer is scheduled for testing in August 1996 with commercial availability planned by 1998.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (United States)
  2. USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
266641
Report Number(s):
DOE/RL-96-51; PNNL-SA-27750
ON: DE96012678; TRN: AHC29616%%38
DOE Contract Number:  
AC06-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jun 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
35 ARMS CONTROL; 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY; VERIFICATION; XENON ISOTOPES; RADIATION MONITORING; SURVEY MONITORS; DESIGN; NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS; DETECTION; RADIATION DETECTORS; AERIAL MONITORING; AUTOMATION; XENON 135; XENON 133; XENON 131; SENSITIVITY

Citation Formats

Perkins, R. W., and Casey, L. A. Radioxenons: Their role in monitoring a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.2172/266641.
Perkins, R. W., & Casey, L. A. Radioxenons: Their role in monitoring a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/266641
Perkins, R. W., and Casey, L. A. 1996. "Radioxenons: Their role in monitoring a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/266641. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/266641.
@article{osti_266641,
title = {Radioxenons: Their role in monitoring a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty},
author = {Perkins, R. W. and Casey, L. A.},
abstractNote = {Monitoring for xenon radionuclides which are produced in a nuclear detonation can provide a strong deterrent to the violation of a Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). There are 18 known radioactive xenon isotopes produced in nuclear fission with half-lives ranging from less than one second to 11.9 days. However, only four of these remain in significant amounts more than a day after a detonation. In order for radioxenon monitoring to be practical, it was necessary to develop an automated measurement system which could operate unattended for periods of months, measure the entire spectrum of radioxenons, and provide hundreds of times better sensitivities than current laboratory procedures. This capability was developed at the US Department of Energy`s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory based on rapid separation of atmospheric xenon coupled with a unique high sensitivity measurement device for the radioxenons. A fieldable prototype analyzer is scheduled for testing in August 1996 with commercial availability planned by 1998.},
doi = {10.2172/266641},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/266641}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}