Commissioning and Field Tests of a Van-Mounted System for the Detection of Radioactive Sources and Special Nuclear Material

MODES-SNM project aimed at developing a mobile/portable modular detection system for radioactive sources and Special Nuclear Material (SNM). Its main goal was to deliver a tested prototype capable of passively detecting weak or shielded radioactive sources with accuracy higher than that of currently available systems. By the end of the project all the objectives have been successfully achieved. Results from the laboratory commissioning and the field tests are presented in this publication

New perspectives for undoped CaF2 scintillator as a threshold activation neutron detector

In this paper we present the prompt photofission neutron detection performance of undoped CaF2 scintillator using Threshold Activation Detection (TAD). The study is carried out in the frame of C-BORD Horizon 2020 project, during which an efficient toolbox for high volume freight non-intrusive inspection (NII) is under development. Technologies for radiation monitoring are the part of the project. Particularly, detection of various radiological threats on country borders plays an important significant role in Homeland Security applications. Detection of illegal transfer of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) - 235U, 233U and 239Pu - is particular due to the potential use for production of nuclear weapon as well as radiological dispersal device (RDD) V known also as a "dirty bomb". This technique relies on activation of 19F nuclei in the scintillator medium by fast neutrons and registration of high-energy β particles and γ-rays from the decay of reaction products. The radiation from SNM is detected after irradiation in order to avoid detector blinding. Despite the low 19F(n,α)16N or 19F(n,p)19O reaction cross-section, the method could be a good solution for detection of shielded nuclear material. Results obtained with the CaF2 detector were compared with the previous study done for BaF2 and 3He detector. These experimental results were obtained using 252Cf source and 9 MeV Varian Linatron M9 linear accelerator (LINAC). Finally, performance of the prompt neutron detection system based on CaF2 will be validated at Rotterdam Seaport during field trails in 2018

Light yield nonproportionality of doped CeF₃scintillators

In this paper measurements of emission spectra, light output and nonproportional response of CeF3 scintillators doped with Ca, Sr, Ba and Pr were conducted. Results showed degradation of the light output for the doped samples in comparison with an undoped CeF3. For each scintillator the nonproportional response on gamma radiation showed unusual lack of saturation at 100 keV, as observed previously for undoped CeF3 samples.</p

Study of undoped CeF&lt;inf&gt;3&lt;/inf&gt; scintillators at room and liquid nitrogen temperature

In this paper properties of various undoped CeF3 scintillators were investigated at room and liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperature. The study was focused on measurements of radioluminescence spectra, decay time, non-proportional response on X- and γ-rays and energy resolution at different temperature environment. Surprisingly, the pure CeF3 crystals show comparable non-proportionality curves, which are very similar to that presented by inorganic scintillators. The investigation of the phenomenon occurring in CeF3 scintillators would be another step to get a better knowledge of the scintillators nature, which still haven't been entirely understood.</p

Extensive studies on light yield non-proportional response of undoped CeF₃at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures

In this paper properties of various undoped CeF3 scintillators were investigated at room and liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperatures. The study was focused on measurements of radioluminescence spectra, decay time, non-proportional response to X-and gamma-rays, energy and intrinsic resolution at different temperature environment. Surprisingly, all the tested pure CeF3 crystals show non-proportional response up to 5.1 MeV gamma ray energy, which is contrary to the typical nonproportionality observed below 100 keV for most of the inorganic scintillators. The investigation of the phenomenon occurring in CeF3 scintillators would be another step to get a better knowledge of the scintillators nature, which still has not been entirely understood.</p