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Detection of unexploded ordnance by PGNAA based borehole-logging

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Abstract

The performance of a borehole-logging system, based on prompt-gamma-neutron-activation-analysis (PGNAA), for explosive detection was studied by Monte-Carlo simulations. The prompt gamma of nitrogen, which is a constituent of common explosive, was used to identify the unexploded ordnance (UXO). Our results show that the minimum counting time depends on the soil moisture, the cladding thickness and the explosive composition. In conjunction with the standard detection by magnetometry, the PGNAA is a promising analytical technique for definitive identification of deep buried UXOs.

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Abbreviations

PGNAA:

Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis

UXO:

Unexploded ordnance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Nuclear Waste Management and Reactor Safety, Research Centre Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany

    John Kettler, Eric Mauerhofer & Marco Steinbusch

  2. Institute of Nuclear Fuel Cycle, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    John Kettler

Authors
  1. John Kettler
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  2. Eric Mauerhofer
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  3. Marco Steinbusch
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Correspondence to John Kettler.

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Kettler, J., Mauerhofer, E. & Steinbusch, M. Detection of unexploded ordnance by PGNAA based borehole-logging. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 295, 2071–2075 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2215-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-012-2215-y

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