Discrimination of Nuclear Explosions against Civilian Sources Based on Atmospheric Xenon Isotopic Activity Ratios

Kalinowski, Martin; Axelsson, A.; Bean, Marc; Blanchard, X.; Bowyer, Theodore W.; Brachet, G.; Hebel, Simon; McIntyre, Justin I.; Peters, Jana; Pistner, Christoph; Raith, Maria; Ringbom, Anders; Saey, Paul R. J.; Schlosser, C.; Stocki, T. J.; Taffary, T.; Ungar, R. Kurt

doi:10.1007/s00024-009-0032-1

Cited by 144 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The 133m Xe/ 133 Xe ratios range between 0.015 and 0.13 (mean of the uncertainty 23%), the 135 Xe/ 133 Xe ratios range between 0.007 and 0.069 (mean of the uncertainty 38%) and the 133m Xe/ 131m Xe ratios range between 0.7 and 3.3 (mean of the uncertainty 37%). Those ratios are well within the expected values from reactor operations or with emissions from radiopharmaceutical production plants (KALINOWSKI et al, 2010).…”

Section: Operational Experience and Data From The Noble Gas Station Asupporting

confidence: 56%

“…The distinction can only be made by the isotopic composition, which is usually different for nuclear explosions and other nuclear activities (KALINOWSKI et al, 2010) and by taking into account the characteristic concentrations and their typical variation at a specific site. For a long time, it was assumed that nuclear explosions are uniquely characterized by high ratios of 135 Xe/ 133 Xe or 133m Xe/ 133 Xe.…”

Section: General Requirements For Ims Noble Gas Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT

Auer

Kumberg

Sartorius

et al. 2010

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Atmospheric measurement of radioactive xenon isotopes (radioxenon) plays a key role in remote monitoring of nuclear explosions, since it has a high capability to capture radioactive debris for a wide range of explosion scenarios. It is therefore a powerful tool in providing evidence for nuclear testing, and is one of the key components of the verification regime of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The reliability of this method is largely based on a well-developed measurement technology. In the 1990s, with the prospect of the build-up of a monitoring network for the CTBT, new development of radioxenon equipment started. This article summarizes the physical and technical principles upon which the radioxenon technology is based and the advances the technology has undergone during the last 10 years. In contrast to previously used equipment, which was manually operated, the new generation of radioxenon monitoring equipment is designed for automated and continuous operation in remote field locations. Also the analytical capabilities of the equipment were strongly enhanced. Minimum detectable concentrations of the recently developed systems are well below 1 mBq/ m 3 for the key nuclide 133 Xe for sampling periods between 8 and 24 h. All the systems described here are also able to separately measure with low detection limits the radioxenon isotopes 131m Xe, 133m Xe and 135 Xe, which are also relevant for the detection of nuclear tests. The equipment has been extensively tested during recent years by operation in a laboratory environment and in field locations, by performing comparison measurements with laboratory type equipment and by parallel operation. These tests demonstrate that the equipment has reached a sufficiently high technical standard for deployment in the global CTBT verification regime.

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Section: Operational Experience and Data From The Noble Gas Station Asupporting

confidence: 56%

Section: General Requirements For Ims Noble Gas Equipmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT

Auer

Kumberg

Sartorius

et al. 2010

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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“…In particular, the fission gases of radioxenon are produced and released into the environment, causing detection in monitoring networks. Because radioxenon is a key indicator of nuclear testing (12,13), these emissions are interfering with treaty monitoring operations connected with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and considerations of a future Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (14). Reductions in radioxenon emissions are being sought to minimize or eliminate their impact on nuclear monitoring systems (12).…”

Section: Us Government Development Plansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because radioxenon is a key indicator of nuclear testing (12,13), these emissions are interfering with treaty monitoring operations connected with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and considerations of a future Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (14). Reductions in radioxenon emissions are being sought to minimize or eliminate their impact on nuclear monitoring systems (12). Pacific Northwest National Laboratories through the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization has been asking producers to sign a pledge that they will work toward minimizing xenon emissions.…”

Section: Us Government Development Plansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversification in the Supply Chain of ⁹⁹Mo Ensures a Future for ^99mTc

Cutler

Schwarz

2014

J Nucl Med

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The uncertain availability of 99m Tc has become a concern for nuclear medicine departments across the globe. An issue for the United States is that currently it is dependent on a supply of 99m Tc (from 99 Mo) that is derived solely by production outside the United States. Since the United States uses half the world's 99 Mo production, the U.S. 99 Mo supply chain would be greatly enhanced if a producer were located within the United States. The fragility of the old 99 Mo supply chain is being addressed as new facilities are constructed and new processes are developed to produce 99 Mo without highly enriched uranium. The conversion to low-enriched uranium is necessary to minimize the potential misuse of highly enriched uranium in the world for nonpeaceful means. New production facilities, new methods for the production of 99 Mo, and a new generator elution system for the supply of 99m Tc are currently being pursued. The progress made in all these areas will be discussed, as they all highlight the need to embrace diversity to ensure that we have a robust and reliable supply of 99m Tc in the future.

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“…With the four different radioxenon isotopes, various ratios can be formed and can provide information on the origin of the radioxenon. For example, multiple isotope ratios can discriminate most nuclear reactor power plant emissions from nuclear explosions [19]. An example of this type of analysis is shown graphically in a multiple isotope ratio plot below in Figure 6.…”

Section: Categorization Of Radioxenon Eventsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Final Technical Report on Radioxenon Event Analysis

Ely¹,

Cooper²,

Hayes³

et al. 2013

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This document was printed on recycled paper. Executive SummaryAutomated radionuclide samplers to monitor for nuclear explosions are being installed as part of the International Monitoring System. Data from these systems is being generated and tools to analyze large data sets and complex operational parameters are required. In addition, the processes to efficiently screen and categorize the samples need to be developed. This Advance Spectral Analysis for Radioxenon (ASAR) project supported the U.S. National Data Center (NDC) radionuclide sample collection objectives by researching and developing algorithms and analysis approaches and building analysis tools that can be used with the NDC database. These tools were designed initiated on the previous Data Center project, and extended and upgraded during the ASAR project. These tools provide an independent calculation approach and can be used to provide confidence in the data and activity concentrations provide by the International Data Center (IDC).In addition to the main review toolset, the ASAR project supported the enhancement of the calibration tool, which allows semi-automated calculation of the calibration data collected from beta-gamma systems. And the ASAR project supported the development of a stand-alone analysis tool, using a different analysis approach using standard spectra fitting. This was developed in conjunction with the University of Texas, with the support of Dr. Biegalski during his sabbatical at PNNL. This tool is useful for low activity concentration samples and can provide increased accuracy in the calculated values.With the increased capability in analyzing the data files and providing high-confidence values, the ASAR project focused on exploring the approaches to effectively screen and categorize samples. There are many samples collected every day, with many activity concentrations below the minimal detectable concentration. However, there are also detections every day which need to be reviewed and resolved. Almost all of these are from emissions from nuclear power plant reactors or medical isotope production facilities, but they require careful inspection and review; making this process as efficient as possible was a main focus of the ASAR project. This is an active research area and no simple approach is satisfactory. Although the systems measure four radioxenon isotopes which can provide much more information when combined in ratios that when analyzed individually, they are not always detected above the minimal detectable concentration (MDC) of the collection and measurement system. Even in cases where several or all isotopes are detected, the radioxenon data can't discriminate nuclear explosions from medical isotope production or reactor start-up in all scenarios. In these cases, additional information is required to support resolution of radioxenon detections, such as seismic detection or other information. The radioxenon data can be screened to narrow down the number of detections that require further analysis and combined with other...

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Discrimination of Nuclear Explosions against Civilian Sources Based on Atmospheric Xenon Isotopic Activity Ratios

Cited by 144 publications

References 20 publications

Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT

Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT

Diversification in the Supply Chain of ⁹⁹Mo Ensures a Future for ^99mTc

Final Technical Report on Radioxenon Event Analysis

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Discrimination of Nuclear Explosions against Civilian Sources Based on Atmospheric Xenon Isotopic Activity Ratios

Cited by 144 publications

References 20 publications

Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT

Ten Years of Development of Equipment for Measurement of Atmospheric Radioactive Xenon for the Verification of the CTBT

Diversification in the Supply Chain of 99Mo Ensures a Future for 99mTc

Final Technical Report on Radioxenon Event Analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Diversification in the Supply Chain of ⁹⁹Mo Ensures a Future for ^99mTc