Gamma spectrometry of spent nuclear fuel using a miniature CdTe detector

The application of a planar miniature CdTe detector for gamma spectrometry has been tested by analysing standard radioactive sources and spent nuclear fuel. The detector was connected to a charge loss corrector amplifier and yielded an energy resolution (FWHM) of 7.2 keV at 662 keV. The application of the CdTe detector to spent fuels resulted in gamma spectra of well resolved photopeaks for the fission products 134Cs and 137Cs. The ratio of the two fission products, complemented by isotopic correlations, verified the burnup of the fuel to within 10% of that declared by the operator.