Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a key part in the international community in the detection of radioxenon. PNNL’s design of radioxenon detection systems have resulted in the need for multiple sources to be capable of producing high quality NaI and CsI well detectors. Testing of NaI and CsI detectors from multiple manufactures has resulted in the discovery of two issues. First, there is potential for a dead layer, due to the manufacturer handling of the crystal, to be present on both the CsI and NaI crystals. The second issue is an energy drift caused by incorrect mating of PMT and PMT base to the crystal. These two issues cause adverse effects on the measurement of radioxenon or any other radiological measurement. It is clear that additional handling and inspection procedures are necessary during the manufacturing process. This paper will discuss the matter in more detail and give evidence of the presence of these issues in PNNL purchased crystals. The paper will also propose procedures for handling and testing to high quality CsI and NaI crystals get delivered on future purchases.
Revised: November 10, 2009 |
Published: September 21, 2009
Citation
Cooper M.W., J.H. Ely, D.A. Haas, J.C. Hayes, M.E. Keillor, and J.I. McIntyre. 2009.RADIATION DETECTION CHALLENGES. In Monitoring Research Review (MRR 2009) Ground-Based Nuclear Explosion Monitoring Technologies, September 21-23, 2009, Tucson, Arizona, 624-630. Los Alamos, New Mexico:Los Alamos National Laboratory.PNNL-SA-67913.