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DOE OSTI · 1825744

Sensitivity analysis towards trace-uranium detection with γ-γ coincidence NAA

Tsang, R. H.M.·Nusair, O.·Piepke, A.
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Abstract

An improved approach for detection of trace amounts of 238 U by means of neutron activation analysis (NAA) is presented. The analysis enhancement is obtained by utilizing γ-γ coincidence counting. An empirical method for evaluating the sensitivity gain in the presence of a large source-related background is presented. A comparison of detection limits is made between two counting schemes; namely, counting single gammas using one HPGe detector versus counting coincident gammas using two HPGe detectors placed face-to-face. Furthermore, a data-validated radiation transport model, created in GEANT4 for a single HPGe detector, is extended to handle the two detector setup. In this counting scheme, a 238 U-detection sensitivity enhancement of about a factor of 8 is predicted for a sample of Saint-Gobain G3 Sapphire when compared to the simpler singles counting approach.

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46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYdetector modelling and simulations i (interaction of radiation with mattergamma detectorsinspection with neutronsinteraction of hadrons with matter)interaction of photons with matter

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Tsang, R. H.M., Nusair, O., Piepke, A.. 2021-10-07. Sensitivity analysis towards trace-uranium detection with γ-γ coincidence NAA. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221%2F16%2F10%2Fp10007

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