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A CZT-based radioxenon detection system in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

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Abstract

In this work, a prototype radioxenon detection system was designed, developed and tested at Oregon State University to study the response of CdZnTe (CZT) detectors to xenon radioisotopes for monitoring nuclear explosions. The detector utilizes two coplanar CZT detectors and measures xenon radioisotopes through beta–gamma coincidence detection between the two detection elements. The CZT-based detection system offers excellent energy resolution and background count rate compared with scintillator-based beta–gamma coincidence detectors currently in operation at the IMS stations. In this paper, we briefly discuss the detector design and report our recent measurement results with 131mXe, 133mXe, and 133Xe produced in the TRIGA reactor at OSU.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded in-part by the Consortium for Verification Technology under Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Award Number DE-NA0002534. The authors would also like to thank S. Smith from the Radiation Center of the Oregon State University for his contributions to this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Oregon State University, 3451 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA

    Lily Ranjbar, Abi T. Farsoni & Eric M. Becker

Authors
  1. Lily Ranjbar
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  2. Abi T. Farsoni
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  3. Eric M. Becker
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Correspondence to Lily Ranjbar.

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Ranjbar, L., Farsoni, A.T. & Becker, E.M. A CZT-based radioxenon detection system in support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 310, 969–978 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-016-4872-8

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