Efficiency calibration and self-attenuation correction in radioxenon measurement using ß-γ coincidence method.

Measurement of the four radioxenon isotopes, namely 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe, and 135Xe, play a key role in underground nuclear test monitoring for ensuring compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). To improve detection sensitivity, a ß-γ coincidence technique is commonly used. Due to the presence of the gas matrix, such as stable xenon, nitrogen, helium, the self-attenuation effects should be taken into account when measuring different types of sample. In order to improve the accuracy of the measurement, the detection efficiencies of X-rays and γ-rays were derived by using a simulation gas calibration source with low density of sponge matrix. The detection efficiencies of ß-particles and conversion electrons (CEs) were calibrated by measuring radioxenon sample. The self-attenuation correction factors of X-rays and γ-rays were determined by Geant4 simulation method. The self-attenuation correction factors of ß-particles and CEs were provided by measuring the radioxenon samples with different volumes of xenon, nitrogen and helium.

Radioactivity measurement of 85Kr by using anti-cosmic HPGe γ spectrometer.

In order to improve the detection sensitivity of 85Kr, an anti-cosmic HPGe γ spectrometer was established and a specific Marinelli beaker was designed for 85Kr measurement. Comparing to the non-anticoincidence γ spectrum, the integral background counts rate range from 20 to 2400 keV was reduced by a factor of 5.17 using anticoincidence shielding. The minimum detectable activity of 85Kr was 10.5 Bq within 24 h measurement in standard mode and that of 3.99 Bq in anticoincidence mode. The activity concentration of atmospheric 85Kr was preliminarily measured to be an average of 1.30 Bq/m3 in Beijing and corresponding minimum detectable concentration was 0.2 Bq/m3.

Assessment of a compton-suppressed spectrometer for measurement of radioactive xenon isotopes.

Airborne radionuclide monitoring is considered to be the most certain way to detect a clandestine nuclear weapon test. The activity concentration of radioxenon samples collected by the radionuclide stations of the International Monitoring System (IMS) for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is generally performed at the low-level, hence it is necessary to improve the detection sensitivity of the radioactivity measuring apparatus for radionuclide monitoring. The Compton-suppressed spectrometer (CSS) has the advantage of reducing the background and improving the sensitivity in the environmental level measurement. Therefore, the measurement of the relevant radioxenon sample at the environmental level is feasible by using CSS. To assess the performance of CSS for radioxenon measurements, the Compton-suppressed and unsuppressed spectra of the 133Xe and 127Xe samples have been acquired, and subsequently, the information of the full energy peaks (FEP) in the spectra were compared. The assessment indicates that CSS can provide high sensitivity, simple operation, and straightforward activity determination, and it can be regarded as an appropriate apparatus in the radioxenon measurement.

Measurement of the gamma-ray emission probability of 131mXe.

131mXe has been standardized by means of an internal gas proportional counting system, employing a length-compensated method. The activity concentration of 131mXe was measured with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.6%. The gamma-ray emission probability of 131mXe was then determined as 0.0196(4) by measuring a standard sample of 131mXe using a high-purity germanium (HPGe) spectrometer.

Determination of 226Ra Activity Using Gamma Spectrometry with 226Ra-222Rn Disequilibrium.

Radium-226 (Ra) activity is normally determined indirectly by gamma spectrometry, in particular by measuring the characteristic γ-ray emitted from its progeny (Pb and Bi) when Ra-Rn secular equilibrium is reached. This article describes a measurement method involving the measurement of Pb ingrowth. The activity of Ra determined by this method agrees with that measured after Ra-Rn equilibrium. The method of Pb ingrowth allows rapid and sufficiently accurate determination of Ra activity without the need to wait for Ra-Rn equilibrium.

The performance determination of a Compton-suppression spectrometer and the measurement of the low level radioactive samples.

The performance of a new Compton-suppression spectrometer consisting of one HPGe detector and three NaI(Tl) detectors was studied. The peak-to-Compton ratio for a (137)Cs source is 1150 and the integral background count rate is 0.3 5s(-1) over the energy interval 20-3000 keV. The spectrometer was used to acquire both Compton-suppressed and non-suppressed spectra of aerosol samples collected in Beijing following the Fukushima nuclear accident.

The coincidence-summing correction of the Compton-suppression spectrometer.

The compton-suppression Spectrometer can suppress the Compton baseline and make weak full energy peaks prominent in low-level activity gamma spectra, so it is used to measure environmental radioactive samples. In order to quantify the activities of the radionuclides in the sample coincidence-summing corrections should be applied. In this article the expressions of coincidence-summing correction of Compton-Suppression Spectrometer were deduced and the validity of the expressions was verified.