Comparison of experimental results of a Quad-CZT array detector, a NaI(Tl), a LaBr₃(Ce), and a HPGe for safeguards applications

Abstract

A: A compound semiconductor detector, CdTe (or CdZnTe), has been used in various areas including nuclear safeguards applications. To address its critical drawback, low detection efficiency, which leads to a long measurement time, a Quad-CZT array-based gamma-ray spectrometer in our previous study has been developed by combining four individual CZT detectors. We have redesigned the developed Quad-CZT array system to make it more simple and compact for a hand-held gamma-ray detector. The objective of this paper aims to compare the improved Quad-CZT array system with the traditional gamma-ray spectrometers (NaI(Tl), LaBr 3 (Ce), HPGe); these detectors currently have been the most commonly used for verification of nuclear materials. Nuclear materials in different physical forms in a nuclear facility of Korea were measured by the Quad-CZT array system and the existing gamma-ray detectors. For measurements of UO 2 pellets and powders, and fresh fuel rods, the Quad-CZT array system turned out to be superior to the NaI(Tl) and LaBr 3 (Ce). For measurements of UF 6 cylinders with a thick wall, the Quad-CZT array system and HPGe gave similar accuracy under the same measurement time. From the results of the field tests conducted, we can conclude that the improved Quad-CZT array system would be used as an alternative to HPGes and scintillation detectors for the purpose of increasing effectivenss and efficiency of safeguards applications. This is the first paper employing a multi-element CZT array detector for measurement of nuclear materials -particularly uranium in a UF 6 cylinder -in a real nuclear facility. The present work also suggests that the multi-CZT array system described in this study would be one promising method to address a serious weakness of CZT-based radiation detection. K: Inspection with gamma rays; Search for radioactive and fissile materials 1Corresponding author.

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Electromigration and Polarization in Schottky Contacts CdTe Based Compounds

“…During the last decade Cadmium telluride (CdTe) based compounds have been extensively studied due to their wide range of applications [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. In most of these applications, two metals contacts are deposited on CdTe and metal/semiconductor/metal structure (M-S-M) are formed.…”