Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center: The analytical response

ISSN： 0236-5731

Source： Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol.263, Iss.1, 2005-01, pp. : 163-169

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Abstract

A performance comparison of a CdTe and a CdZnTe detector when exposed to uranium samples of various isotopic enrichments has been performed. These high-resolution detectors can assist in the rapid determination of uranium isotopic content of illicit material. Spectra were recorded from these “room temperature' semiconductor detectors with a portable multi-channel analyzer, both in the laboratory and in a field environment. Both detectors were operated below ambient temperature using the vendor supplied thermoelectric coolers. Both detectors had nominally the same active volume (18 mm³ for the CdZnTe and 25 mm³ for the CdTe detector) and resolution (i.e., <1.0 keV resolution FWHM at 59.5 keV). Spectra of samples of known isotopic content were recorded at fixed geometries. An evaluation of potential signature &ggr;-rays for the detection of enriched uranium was completed. Operational advantages and disadvantages of each detector are discussed.