Author/Authors :
Aalseth، نويسنده , , C.E. and Day، نويسنده , , A.R. and Haas، نويسنده , , D.A. and Hoppe، نويسنده , , E.W. and Hyronimus، نويسنده , , B.J. and Keillor، نويسنده , , M.E. and Mace، نويسنده , , E.K. and Orrell، نويسنده , , J.L. and Seifert، نويسنده , , A. and Woods، نويسنده , , V.T.، نويسنده ,
Abstract :
On-Site Inspection (OSI) is a key component of the verification regime for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Measurements of radionuclide isotopes created by an underground nuclear explosion are a valuable signature of a Treaty violation. Argon-37 is produced by neutron interaction with calcium in soil, 40Ca(n,α)37Ar. For OSI, the 35-day half-life of 37Ar provides both high specific activity and sufficient time for completion of an inspection before decay limits sensitivity. This paper presents a low-background internal-source gas proportional counter with an 37Ar measurement sensitivity level equivalent to 45 mBq/SCM in wholeair.
Keywords :
Nuclear weapons monitoring , Low energy threshold proportional counter , CTBT On-Site Inspection , Radioactive argon isotopes
