Neutron activation analysis, gamma ray spectrometry and radiation environment monitoring instrument concept: GEORAD

Ambrosi, Richard M.; Talboys, D. L.; Sims, Mark R.; Bannister, N.; Makarewicz, M.; Stevenson, T.; Hutchinson, Ian; Watterson, J.I.W.; Lanza, R.; Richter, Lutz; Mills, Angela; Fraser, George W.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2004.10.031

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…No ionising radiation detector has yet been landed on the Martian surface, although NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (scheduled launch 2009) will carry the Radiation Assessment Detector (Hassler et al, 2006) and the GEORAD package has been proposed for ESA's ExoMars (scheduled launch 2013) to detect solar proton and neutron backscatter flux (an indirect measure of GCR) (Ambrosi et al, 2005). Until these return observational data, computer modelling will be crucial in determining the Martian radiation environment both on the ground and beneath.…”

Section: Radiobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology

et al. 2007

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Abstract. The surface of Mars, unshielded by thick atmosphere or global magnetic field, is exposed to high levels of cosmic radiation. This ionising radiation field is deleterious to the survival of dormant cells or spores and the persistence of molecular biomarkers in the subsurface, and so its characterisation is of prime astrobiological interest. Here, we present modelling results of the absorbed radiation dose as a function of depth through the Martian subsurface, suitable for calculation of biomarker persistence. A second major implementation of this dose accumulation rate data is in application of the optically stimulated luminescence technique for dating Martian sediments. We present calculations of the dose-depth profile in the Martian subsurface for various scenarios: variations of surface composition (dry regolith, ice, layered permafrost), solar minimum and maximum conditions, locations of different elevation (Olympus Mons, Hellas basin, datum altitude), and increasing atmospheric thickness over geological history. We also model the changing composition of the subsurface radiation field with depth compared between Martian locations with different shielding material, determine the relative dose contributions from primaries of different energies, and discuss particle deflection by the crustal magnetic fields.

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Section: Radiobiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology

et al. 2007

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“…The GEORAD concept (Ambrosi et al, 2005) was developed in response to the Announcement of Opportunity for ESA's ExoMars rover mission (ESA, 2003) to assist in the search for extinct or extant life on Mars. It is a suite of instruments designed to be deployed on a rover.…”

Section: Description Of the Georad Instrument Suitementioning

confidence: 99%

Instrumentation for Geological Field Work On the Moon

et al. 2004

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Abstract.A human return to the Moon will require that astronauts are well equipped with instrumentation to aid their investigations during geological field work. Two instruments are described in detail. The first is a portable X-ray Spectrometer, which can provide rapid geochemical analyses of rocks and soils, identify lunar resources and aid selection of samples for return to Earth. The second instrument is the Geological and Radiation environment package (GEORAD). This is an instrument package, mounted on a rover, to perform in-situ measurements on the lunar surface. It can be used for bulk geochemical measurements of rocks and soils (particularly identifying KREEP-enriched rocks), prospect for ice in shadowed areas of craters at the poles and characterise the lunar radiation environment.

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“…Most notably are safeguards, medical imaging, and robotics radiation mapping [1][2][3][4]. CZT detectors have been briefly considered for neutron activation analysis (NAA) projects but were dismissed due to the limited energy range CZT offers without further exploration of CZT detection limits [5]. While CZT does have a limited usable energy range it can and should still be considered for NAA applications.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a basis for heavy metal in-situ detection using CZT

Foley¹,

Mohanty²,

Sjoden³

2022

J. Inst.

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Heavy metal contamination is a global concern–this type of contamination in the environment has been on the rise since the industrial age. Current guidelines from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization limit arsenic concentration in water sources to 10 μg/kg. Typically, detection of heavy metals in industrial processes include spectrophotometry and colorimetry. A viable alternative for heavy metal detection can be implemented using a room temperature gamma spectrometer paired with a portable neutron generator for in-situ neutron activation analysis. In this paper, we explore detection of an arsenic salt diluted in a water sample to specific concentrations; the arsenic sample is utilized to determine the capability of a 5 mm × 5 mm × 5 mm CZT detector for heavy metal detection by neutron activation analysis. Several arsenic dilutions were irradiated in the University of Utah TRIGA reactor (UUTR), and the samples were measured on both HPGe and CZT detectors. The direct comparator method was used to determine the sample mass in a sample attributed by each detector, and the results were compared to the known dilution arsenic mass. We determined that a CZT gamma spectrometer can reliably detect 10 mg/kg arsenic with high confidence, and as low as 1 mg/kg arsenic with low confidence. For comparison, an HPGe gamma spectrometer can reliably detect 1 mg/kg arsenic with high confidence, and as low as 0.1 mg/kg with low confidence. Based upon our MDA, the CZT spectrometer can detect samples with a total activity of 1.8×10-5 mCi and higher, and the HPGe detector can detect an activity of 1.8×10-6 mCi. These results suggest the method has potential in portable gamma spectrometry solutions for wastewater effluents from industrial processes such as paint manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and smelting operations.

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Neutron activation analysis, gamma ray spectrometry and radiation environment monitoring instrument concept: GEORAD

Cited by 9 publications

References 24 publications

Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology

Martian sub-surface ionising radiation: biosignatures and geology

Instrumentation for Geological Field Work On the Moon

Developing a basis for heavy metal in-situ detection using CZT

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