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Goodwin MA, Davies AV, Britton R, Miley HS, Eslinger PW, Hoffman I, Ungar K, Mekarski P, Botti A. Radionuclide measurements of the international monitoring system. J Environ Radioact 2024; 272:107357. [PMID: 38159463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The International Monitoring System (IMS) is a unique global network of sensors, tuned to measure various phenomenology, with the common goal of detecting a nuclear explosion anywhere in the world. One component of this network collects measurements of radioactive particulates and gases (collectively known as radionuclides) present in the atmosphere; through this, compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) can be verified. The radionuclide sub-network consists of 120 sensors across 80 locations, supported by 16 measurement laboratories. All radionuclide stations make use of a form of γ-ray spectroscopy to measure radionuclides from samples; this remains largely unchanged since the network was first established 25 years ago. Advances in sampling and spectroscopy systems can yield improvements to the sensitivity of the network to detect a nuclear explosion. This paper summarises the status of the IMS radionuclide network, the current suite of technology used and reviews new technology that could enhance future iterations, potentially improving the verification power of the IMS.
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2
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Eslinger PW, Miley HS, Rosenthal WS, Schrom BT. Nuclear explosion monitoring network design considerations. J Environ Radioact 2023; 270:107307. [PMID: 37862882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2023.107307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Design of an efficient monitoring network requires information on the type and size of releases to be detected, the accuracy and reliability of the measuring equipment, and the desired network performance. This work provides a scientific basis for optimizing or minimizing networks of 133Xe samplers to achieve a desired performance level for different levels of release. The approach of this work varies the density of sampling locations to find optimal location subsets, and to explore the properties of variations of those subsets - how crucial is a specific subset; are substitutions problematic? The choice of possible station locations is arbitrary but constrained to some extent by the location of islands, land masses, difficult topography (mountains, etc.) and the places where infrastructure exists to run and support a sampler. Performance is evaluated using hypothetical releases and atmospheric transport models that cover an entire year. Three network performance metrics are calculated: the probability of detecting the releases, the expected number of stations to detect the releases, and the expected number of samples that detect the releases. The quantitative measures support picking optimal or near-optimal network of a specific station density. If a detection probability of 90% (high) was desired for a design basis release of 1014 Bq (1% of 133Xe production from a 1 kt explosion), then a very high density would be required using today's sampling and measurement technology. If the design basis release were raised to 1015 Bq, then the station density could be lowered by a factor of 3. To achieve a location goal of three station detections on average, posited here for the first time, would also require very high station density for a release of 1014 Bq.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - W Steven Rosenthal
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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3
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Miley HS, Eslinger PW. Impact of industrial nuclear emissions on nuclear explosion monitoring. J Environ Radioact 2023; 257:107081. [PMID: 36493635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In 1995, the development of a global radioactive xenon monitoring network was discussed in the Conference on Disarmament as part of a nuclear explosion verification regime. Discussions considered different network densities and different possible source magnitudes. The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was subsequently written to initially include 40 locations for noble gas (radioxenon) samplers, and to consider using a total of 80 locations for noble gas samplers in its International Monitoring System (IMS) after the treaty enters into force. Since 2000, a global network of noble gas monitoring locations has been built as part of the IMS. This network, currently with 31 locations, is of sufficient sensitivity to discover that the Earth's atmosphere contains a complex anthropogenic radioactive xenon background. In this work, the impact of calculated xenon backgrounds on IMS radionuclide stations is determined by atmospheric transport modeling over a period of two years using global average values. The network coverage for potential nuclear explosions is based on a proposed method for finding anomalies among frequent background signals. Even with the addition of background radioxenon sources and using a conservative anomaly-based approach, this work shows that various network configurations have higher xenon coverage than the estimates developed when the IMS network was designed in 1995. While these global xenon coverage figures are better than expected when the network was designed in 1995, the regional impact of background radioxenon sources is large, especially for smaller source magnitudes from potential nuclear explosions, and in some cases the xenon background vastly reduces the coverage value of individual sampling locations. The results show the detection capability and presents an optimal installation order of noble gas sampling locations, e.g. from 40 to 80, after the treaty enters into force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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4
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Eslinger PW, Miley HS, Burnett JL, Lidey LS, Mendez JM, Schrom BT, Sharma MK. Projected network performance for next generation aerosol monitoring systems. J Environ Radioact 2023; 257:107088. [PMID: 36521278 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol monitoring for radioactivity is a mature and proven technology. However, by improving key specifications of aerosol monitoring equipment, more samples per day can be collected and analyzed with the same minimum detectable concentrations as current systems. This work models hypothetical releases of 140Ba and 131I over a range of magnitudes corresponding to the inventory produced from the fission of about 100 g to 1 kiloton TNT-equivalent of 235U. The releases occur over an entire year to incorporate the natural variability in atmospheric transport. Sampling equipment located at the 79 locations for radionuclide stations identified in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) for the International Monitoring System are used to determine the detections of the individual releases. Alternative collection schemes in next generation equipment that collect 2, 3, or 4 samples per day, rather than the current 1 sample per day, would result in detections in many more samples at more stations with detections for a given release level. The authors posit that next generation equipment will result in increased network resilience to outages and improved source-location capability for lower yield source releases. The application of dual-detector and coincidence measurements to these systems would significantly boost sensitivity for some isotopes and would further enhance the monitoring capability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
| | | | - Lance S Lidey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
| | | | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
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5
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Eslinger PW, Miley HS. Projected network performance for next-generation xenon monitoring systems. J Environ Radioact 2022; 251-252:106976. [PMID: 35963214 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation radioxenon monitoring systems are reaching maturity and are expected to improve certain aspects of performance in verifying the absence of nuclear tests. To predict the improvement in detecting and locating nuclear test releases, thousands of releases all over the globe were simulated and the global detection probability was calculated for the single xenon isotope 133Xe. This was done for the International Monitoring System network of noble gas samplers as it currently exists (25 certified stations), and how it would be for potential future network sizes of 39 and 79 stations. The probability of detection was calculated for releases ranging from 1010 Bq to 1016 Bq of 133Xe using 10 d of atmospheric transport and presented as coverage maps and global integrals for both current and next-generation monitoring systems. Similarly, the number of detecting stations and the number of detecting samples were tabulated to elucidate the possibilities for enhanced location capability. Improvements in global detection coverage are maximized at different release sizes in a way that depends on the station density. For example, for releases of 3 × 1014 Bq and 39 stations, the detection probability would rise from 60% to 70% with next-generation systems, while for releases of 1013 Bq and 79 stations, it would rise from 37% to 52%. Achieving an average of two detecting stations would require a 1015 Bq release for a 39-station network and a 1014 Bq release for a 79-station network. The largest impact of using next-generation systems may be the confidence, detection redundancy, and location capability that arise from obtaining multiple samples associated with a single release event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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6
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Eslinger PW, Ely JH, Lowrey JD, Miley HS. Projected network performance for multiple isotopes using next-generation xenon monitoring systems. J Environ Radioact 2022; 251-252:106963. [PMID: 35868224 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Since about 2000 (Bowyer et al., 1998), radioxenon monitoring systems have been under development and testing for the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Operation of the systems since then has resulted in development of a next-generation of systems that are nearly ready for operational deployment. By 2010, the need to screen out civilian sources was well known (Auer et al., 2010; Saey, 2009), and isotopic ratio approaches were soon considered (Kalinowski and Pistner, 2006) to identify specific sources. New generation systems are expected to improve the ability to verify the absence of nuclear tests by using isotopic ratios when multiple isotopes are detected. In this work, thousands of releases were simulated to compute the global detection probability of 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe, and 135Xe at 39 noble gas systems in the International Monitoring System (IMS) for both current and next-generation systems. Three release scenarios are defined at 1 h, 1 d, and 10 d past a 1 kt TNT equivalent 235U explosion event. Multiple cases using from one part in a million to the complete release of the xenon isotopic activity are evaluated for each scenario. Coverage maps and global integrals comparing current and next-generation monitoring systems are presented showing that next-generation noble gas systems will create measurable improvements in the IMS. The global detection probability for 133Xe is shown to be strong in all scenarios, but only modestly improved by next-generation equipment. However, the detection probability for 131mXe and 133mXe increased to about 50% in different scenarios, providing a second detectable isotope for many events. As anticipated from shorter sampling intervals, the expected number of detecting samples roughly doubled and the expected number of detecting stations rose by approximately 50% for all release scenarios. Thus, it might be anticipated that future events would consist of multiple 133Xe detections and one or more second isotope detections. Signals of this nature should increase detection confidence, tighten release location estimates, improve rejection of civilian signals, and lessen the impacts from individual systems being offline for maintenance or repair reasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - James H Ely
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Justin D Lowrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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Rosenthal WS, Eslinger PW, Schrom BT, Miley HS, Baxter DJ, Fast JD. Enabling probabilistic retrospective transport modeling for accurate source detection. J Environ Radioact 2022; 247:106849. [PMID: 35294912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.106849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Predicting source or background radionuclide emissions is limited by the effort needed to run gas/aerosol atmospheric transport models (ATMs). A high-performance surrogate model is developed for the HYSPLIT4 (NOAA) ATM to accelerate transport simulation through model reduction, code optimization, and improved scaling on high performance computing systems. The surrogate model parameters are a grid of short-duration transport simulations stored offline. The surrogate model then predicts the path of a plume of radionuclide particles emitted from a source, or the field of sources which may have contributed to a detected signal, more efficiently than direct simulation by HYSPLIT4. Termed the Atmospheric Transport Model Surrogate (ATaMS), this suite of capabilities forms a basis to accelerate workflows for probabilistic source prediction and estimation of the radionuclide atmospheric background.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Steven Rosenthal
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN K7-90, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN K7-90, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN K7-90, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN K7-90, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Doug J Baxter
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN K7-90, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Jerome D Fast
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MSIN K7-90, 902 Battelle Boulevard, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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8
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Eslinger PW, Miley HS, Schrom BT. Investigations of association among atmospheric radionuclide measurements. J Environ Radioact 2022; 241:106777. [PMID: 34826775 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Large networks producing frequent atmospheric radionuclide measurements have additional power in characterizing and localizing radionuclide release events over the analysis performed with four or fewer radionuclide measurements. However, adding unrelated measurements to an analysis dilutes that advantage, unless source-term models are extended to account for this complexity. A key steppingstone to obtaining network power is to select a group of related sample measurements that are associated with a release event. Such collections of measurements can be assembled by an analyst, or perhaps they can be selected by algorithm. The authors explore, using a year of atmospheric transport calculations and realistic sensor sensitivities, the potential for a computed radionuclide association tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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9
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Eslinger PW, Lowrey JD, Miley HS, Rosenthal WS, Schrom BT. Source type estimation using noble gas samples. J Environ Radioact 2020; 225:106439. [PMID: 33010633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2020.106439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A Bayesian source-term algorithm recently published by Eslinger et al. (2019) extended previous models by including the ability to discriminate between classes of releases such as nuclear explosions, nuclear power plants, or medical isotope production facilities when multiple isotopes are measured. Using 20 release cases from a synthetic data set previously published by Haas et al. (2017), algorithm performance was demonstrated on the transport scale (400-1000 km) associated with the radionuclide samplers in the International Monitoring System. Inclusion of multiple isotopes improves release location and release time estimates over analyses using only a single isotope. The ability to discriminate between classes of releases does not depend on the accuracy of the location or time of release estimates. For some combinations of isotopes, the ability to confidently discriminate between classes of releases requires only a few samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Justin D Lowrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - William S Rosenthal
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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10
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Miley HS, Burnett JL, Chepko AB, Devoy CL, Eslinger PW, Forrester JB, Friese JI, Lidey LS, Morris SJ, Schrom BT, Stokes S, Swanwick ME, Smart JE, Warren GA. Design considerations for future radionuclide aerosol monitoring systems. J Environ Radioact 2019; 208-209:106037. [PMID: 31476609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.106037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) staff developed the Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler Analyzer (RASA) for worldwide aerosol monitoring in the 1990s. Recently, researchers at PNNL and Creare, LLC, have investigated possibilities for how RASA could be improved, based on lessons learned from more than 15 years of continuous operation, including during the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster. Key themes addressed in upgrade possibilities include having a modular approach to additional radionuclide measurements, optimizing the sampling/analyzing times to improve detection location capabilities, and reducing power consumption by using electrostatic collection versus classic filtration collection. These individual efforts have been made in a modular context that might constitute retrofits to the existing RASA, modular components that could improve a manual monitoring approach, or a completely new RASA. Substantial optimization of the detection and location capabilities of an aerosol network is possible and new missions could be addressed by including additional measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Jonathan L Burnett
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | | | - Clive L Devoy
- Creare, 16 Great Hollow Road, Hanover, NH, 03775, USA.
| | - Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Joel B Forrester
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Judah I Friese
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Lance S Lidey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Scott J Morris
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | | | | | - John E Smart
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Glen A Warren
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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11
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Eslinger PW, Lowrey JD, Miley HS, Rosenthal WS, Schrom BT. Source term estimation using multiple xenon isotopes in atmospheric samples. J Environ Radioact 2019; 204:111-116. [PMID: 31004863 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Algorithms that estimate the location and magnitude of an atmospheric release using remotely sampled air concentrations typically involve a single chemical or radioactive isotope. A new Bayesian algorithm is presented that makes discrimination between possible types of releases (e.g., nuclear explosion, nuclear power plant, or medical isotope production facility) an integral part of the analysis for samples that contain multiple isotopes. Algorithm performance is demonstrated using synthetic data and correctly discriminated between most release-type hypotheses, with higher accuracy when data are available on three or more isotopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Justin D Lowrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - W Steven Rosenthal
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd, Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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12
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Burnett JL, Miley HS, Bowyer TW, Cameron IM. The 2014 Integrated Field Exercise of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty revisited: The case for data fusion. J Environ Radioact 2018; 189:175-181. [PMID: 29679818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The International Monitoring System of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) uses a global network of radionuclide monitoring stations to detect evidence of a nuclear explosion. The two radionuclide technologies employed-particulate and noble gas (radioxenon) detection-have applications for data fusion to improve detection of a nuclear explosion. Using the hypothetical 0.5 kT nuclear explosive test scenario of the CTBTO 2014 Integrated Field Exercise, the intrinsic relationship between particulate and noble gas signatures has been examined. This study shows that, depending upon the time of the radioxenon release, the particulate progeny can produce the more detectable signature. Thus, as both particulate and noble gas signatures are inherently coupled, the authors recommend that the sample categorization schemes should be linked.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Theodore W Bowyer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Ian M Cameron
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
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13
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Aalseth CE, Abgrall N, Aguayo E, Alvis SI, Amman M, Arnquist IJ, Avignone FT, Back HO, Barabash AS, Barbeau PS, Barton CJ, Barton PJ, Bertrand FE, Bode T, Bos B, Boswell M, Bradley AW, Brodzinski RL, Brudanin V, Busch M, Buuck M, Caldwell AS, Caldwell TS, Chan YD, Christofferson CD, Chu PH, Collar JI, Combs DC, Cooper RJ, Cuesta C, Detwiler JA, Doe PJ, Dunmore JA, Efremenko Y, Ejiri H, Elliott SR, Fast JE, Finnerty P, Fraenkle FM, Fu Z, Fujikawa BK, Fuller E, Galindo-Uribarri A, Gehman VM, Gilliss T, Giovanetti GK, Goett J, Green MP, Gruszko J, Guinn IS, Guiseppe VE, Hallin AL, Haufe CR, Hehn L, Henning R, Hoppe EW, Hossbach TW, Howe MA, Jasinski BR, Johnson RA, Keeter KJ, Kephart JD, Kidd MF, Knecht A, Konovalov SI, Kouzes RT, LaFerriere BD, Leon J, Lesko KT, Leviner LE, Loach JC, Lopez AM, Luke PN, MacMullin J, MacMullin S, Marino MG, Martin RD, Massarczyk R, McDonald AB, Mei DM, Meijer SJ, Merriman JH, Mertens S, Miley HS, Miller ML, Myslik J, Orrell JL, O'Shaughnessy C, Othman G, Overman NR, Perumpilly G, Pettus W, Phillips DG, Poon AWP, Pushkin K, Radford DC, Rager J, Reeves JH, Reine AL, Rielage K, Robertson RGH, Ronquest MC, Ruof NW, Schubert AG, Shanks B, Shirchenko M, Snavely KJ, Snyder N, Steele D, Suriano AM, Tedeschi D, Tornow W, Trimble JE, Varner RL, Vasilyev S, Vetter K, Vorren K, White BR, Wilkerson JF, Wiseman C, Xu W, Yakushev E, Yaver H, Young AR, Yu CH, Yumatov V, Zhitnikov I, Zhu BX, Zimmermann S. Search for Neutrinoless Double-β Decay in ^{76}Ge with the Majorana Demonstrator. Phys Rev Lett 2018; 120:132502. [PMID: 29694188 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.120.132502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The Majorana Collaboration is operating an array of high purity Ge detectors to search for neutrinoless double-β decay in ^{76}Ge. The Majorana Demonstrator comprises 44.1 kg of Ge detectors (29.7 kg enriched in ^{76}Ge) split between two modules contained in a low background shield at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, South Dakota. Here we present results from data taken during construction, commissioning, and the start of full operations. We achieve unprecedented energy resolution of 2.5 keV FWHM at Q_{ββ} and a very low background with no observed candidate events in 9.95 kg yr of enriched Ge exposure, resulting in a lower limit on the half-life of 1.9×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.). This result constrains the effective Majorana neutrino mass to below 240-520 meV, depending on the matrix elements used. In our experimental configuration with the lowest background, the background is 4.0_{-2.5}^{+3.1} counts/(FWHM t yr).
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Aalseth
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - N Abgrall
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - E Aguayo
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - S I Alvis
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - M Amman
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - I J Arnquist
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - F T Avignone
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - H O Back
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - A S Barabash
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, 117218 Russia
| | - P S Barbeau
- Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - C J Barton
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
| | - P J Barton
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - F E Bertrand
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - T Bode
- Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, München, 80805 Germany
| | - B Bos
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, USA
| | - M Boswell
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - A W Bradley
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - R L Brodzinski
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - V Brudanin
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, 141980 Russia
| | - M Busch
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - M Buuck
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - A S Caldwell
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, USA
| | - T S Caldwell
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Y-D Chan
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - C D Christofferson
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, USA
| | - P-H Chu
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - J I Collar
- Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - D C Combs
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - R J Cooper
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - C Cuesta
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - J A Detwiler
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - P J Doe
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - J A Dunmore
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Yu Efremenko
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA
| | - H Ejiri
- Research Center for Nuclear Physics, Osaka University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - S R Elliott
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - J E Fast
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - P Finnerty
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - F M Fraenkle
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Z Fu
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - B K Fujikawa
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - E Fuller
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | | | - V M Gehman
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - T Gilliss
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - G K Giovanetti
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
- Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - J Goett
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - M P Green
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - J Gruszko
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - I S Guinn
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - V E Guiseppe
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - A L Hallin
- Centre for Particle Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - C R Haufe
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - L Hehn
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - R Henning
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - E W Hoppe
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - T W Hossbach
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - M A Howe
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - B R Jasinski
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
| | - R A Johnson
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - K J Keeter
- Department of Physics, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota 57799, USA
| | - J D Kephart
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - M F Kidd
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
- Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505, USA
| | - A Knecht
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - S I Konovalov
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, 117218 Russia
| | - R T Kouzes
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - B D LaFerriere
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - J Leon
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - K T Lesko
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - L E Leviner
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - J C Loach
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - A M Lopez
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA
| | - P N Luke
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - J MacMullin
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - S MacMullin
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - M G Marino
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - R D Martin
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - R Massarczyk
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - A B McDonald
- Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - D-M Mei
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - S J Meijer
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - J H Merriman
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - S Mertens
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Max-Planck-Institut für Physik, München, 80805 Germany
- Physik Department and Excellence Cluster Universe, Technische Universität, München, 85748 Germany
| | - H S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - M L Miller
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - J Myslik
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - J L Orrell
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - C O'Shaughnessy
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - G Othman
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - N R Overman
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - G Perumpilly
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
| | - W Pettus
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - D G Phillips
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - A W P Poon
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - K Pushkin
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
| | - D C Radford
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - J Rager
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - J H Reeves
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - A L Reine
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - K Rielage
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - R G H Robertson
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - M C Ronquest
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - N W Ruof
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - A G Schubert
- Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics, and Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - B Shanks
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - M Shirchenko
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, 141980 Russia
| | - K J Snavely
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - N Snyder
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
| | - D Steele
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - A M Suriano
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, USA
| | - D Tedeschi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - W Tornow
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - J E Trimble
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - R L Varner
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - S Vasilyev
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, 141980 Russia
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37916, USA
| | - K Vetter
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - K Vorren
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - B R White
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - J F Wilkerson
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - C Wiseman
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA
| | - W Xu
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
- Department of Physics, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069, USA
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - E Yakushev
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, 141980 Russia
| | - H Yaver
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - A R Young
- Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
- Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - C-H Yu
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830, USA
| | - V Yumatov
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute" Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow, 117218 Russia
| | - I Zhitnikov
- Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, 141980 Russia
| | - B X Zhu
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - S Zimmermann
- Nuclear Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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14
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Haas DA, Eslinger PW, Bowyer TW, Cameron IM, Hayes JC, Lowrey JD, Miley HS. Improved performance comparisons of radioxenon systems for low level releases in nuclear explosion monitoring. J Environ Radioact 2017; 178-179:127-135. [PMID: 28818645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear tests and mandates development of verification measures to detect treaty violations. One verification measure is detection of radioactive xenon isotopes produced in the fission of actinides. The International Monitoring System (IMS) currently deploys automated radioxenon systems that can detect four radioxenon isotopes. Radioxenon systems with lower detection limits are currently in development. Historically, the sensitivity of radioxenon systems was measured by the minimum detectable concentration for each isotope. In this paper we analyze the response of radioxenon systems using rigorous metrics in conjunction with hypothetical representative releases indicative of an underground nuclear explosion instead of using only minimum detectable concentrations. Our analyses incorporate the impact of potential spectral interferences on detection limits and the importance of measuring isotopic ratios of the relevant radioxenon isotopes in order to improve discrimination from background sources particularly for low-level releases. To provide a sufficient data set for analysis, hypothetical representative releases are simulated every day from the same location for an entire year. The performance of three types of samplers are evaluated assuming they are located at 15 IMS radionuclide stations in the region of the release point. The performance of two IMS-deployed samplers and a next-generation system is compared with proposed metrics for detection and discrimination using representative releases from the nuclear test site used by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek A Haas
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA; The University of Texas at Austin, 110 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Theodore W Bowyer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Ian M Cameron
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - James C Hayes
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Justin D Lowrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, USA.
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15
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Burnett JL, Miley HS, Milbrath BD. Radionuclide observables during the Integrated Field Exercise of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. J Environ Radioact 2016; 153:195-200. [PMID: 26802699 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
In 2014 the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) undertook an Integrated Field Exercise (IFE14) in Jordan. The exercise consisted of a simulated 0.5-2 kT underground nuclear explosion triggering an On-site Inspection (OSI) to search for evidence of a Treaty violation. This research paper evaluates two of the OSI techniques used during the IFE14, laboratory-based gamma-spectrometry of soil samples and in-situ gamma-spectrometry, both of which were implemented to search for 17 OSI relevant particulate radionuclides indicative of nuclear explosions. The detection sensitivity is evaluated using real IFE and model data. It indicates that higher sensitivity laboratory measurements are the optimum technique during the IFE and within the Treaty/Protocol-specified OSI timeframes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Brian D Milbrath
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, USA
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16
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Eslinger PW, Cameron IM, Dumais JR, Imardjoko Y, Marsoem P, McIntyre JI, Miley HS, Stoehlker U, Widodo S, Woods VT. Source term estimates of radioxenon released from the BaTek medical isotope production facility using external measured air concentrations. J Environ Radioact 2015; 148:10-15. [PMID: 26093852 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BATAN Teknologi (BaTek) operates an isotope production facility in Serpong, Indonesia that supplies (99m)Tc for use in medical procedures. Atmospheric releases of (133)Xe in the production process at BaTek are known to influence the measurements taken at the closest stations of the radionuclide network of the International Monitoring System (IMS). The purpose of the IMS is to detect evidence of nuclear explosions, including atmospheric releases of radionuclides. The major xenon isotopes released from BaTek are also produced in a nuclear explosion, but the isotopic ratios are different. Knowledge of the magnitude of releases from the isotope production facility helps inform analysts trying to decide if a specific measurement result could have originated from a nuclear explosion. A stack monitor deployed at BaTek in 2013 measured releases to the atmosphere for several isotopes. The facility operates on a weekly cycle, and the stack data for June 15-21, 2013 show a release of 1.84 × 10(13) Bq of (133)Xe. Concentrations of (133)Xe in the air are available at the same time from a xenon sampler located 14 km from BaTek. An optimization process using atmospheric transport modeling and the sampler air concentrations produced a release estimate of 1.88 × 10(13) Bq. The same optimization process yielded a release estimate of 1.70 × 10(13) Bq for a different week in 2012. The stack release value and the two optimized estimates are all within 10% of each other. Unpublished production data and the release estimate from June 2013 yield a rough annual release estimate of 8 × 10(14) Bq of (133)Xe in 2014. These multiple lines of evidence cross-validate the stack release estimates and the release estimates based on atmospheric samplers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA.
| | - Ian M Cameron
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA.
| | | | - Yudi Imardjoko
- P.T. BATAN Teknologi, Puspiptek, Serpong 15310, Indonesia.
| | - Pujadi Marsoem
- P.T. BATAN Teknologi, Puspiptek, Serpong 15310, Indonesia.
| | - Justin I McIntyre
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA.
| | - Ulrich Stoehlker
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Rosastr. 9, D-78098, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Susilo Widodo
- National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia (BATAN), Jl. Kuningan Barat, Mampang Prapatan Jakarta, 12710, Indonesia.
| | - Vincent T Woods
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Boulevard, P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352 USA.
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17
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Eslinger PW, Bowyer TW, Cameron IM, Hayes JC, Miley HS. Atmospheric plume progression as a function of time and distance from the release point for radioactive isotopes. J Environ Radioact 2015; 148:123-129. [PMID: 26151301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The radionuclide network of the International Monitoring System comprises up to 80 stations around the world that have aerosol and xenon monitoring systems designed to detect releases of radioactive materials to the atmosphere from nuclear explosions. A rule of thumb description of plume concentration and duration versus time and distance from the release point is useful when designing and deploying new sample collection systems. This paper uses plume development from atmospheric transport modeling to provide a power-law rule describing atmospheric dilution factors as a function of distance from the release point. Consider the plume center-line concentration seen by a ground-level sampler as a function of time based on a short-duration ground-level release of a nondepositing radioactive tracer. The concentration C (Bq m(-3)) near the ground varies with distance from the source with the relationship C=R×A(D,C) ×e (-λ(-1.552+0.0405×D)) × 5.37×10(-8) × D(-2.35) where R is the release magnitude (Bq), D is the separation distance (km) from the ground level release to the measurement location, λ is the decay constant (h(-1)) for the radionuclide of interest and AD,C is an attenuation factor that depends on the length of the sample collection period. This relationship is based on the median concentration for 10 release locations with different geographic characteristics and 365 days of releases at each location, and it has an R(2) of 0.99 for 32 distances from 100 to 3000 km. In addition, 90 percent of the modeled plumes fall within approximately one order of magnitude of this curve for all distances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Ted W Bowyer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Ian M Cameron
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - James C Hayes
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
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18
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Eslinger PW, Friese JI, Lowrey JD, McIntyre JI, Miley HS, Schrom BT. Estimates of radioxenon released from Southern Hemisphere medical isotope production facilities using measured air concentrations and atmospheric transport modeling. J Environ Radioact 2014; 135:94-99. [PMID: 24811887 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2014] [Revised: 04/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive-Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty monitors the atmosphere for radioactive xenon leaking from underground nuclear explosions. Emissions from medical isotope production represent a challenging background signal when determining whether measured radioxenon in the atmosphere is associated with a nuclear explosion prohibited by the treaty. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) operates a reactor and medical isotope production facility in Lucas Heights, Australia. This study uses two years of release data from the ANSTO medical isotope production facility and (133)Xe data from three IMS sampling locations to estimate the annual releases of (133)Xe from medical isotope production facilities in Argentina, South Africa, and Indonesia. Atmospheric dilution factors derived from a global atmospheric transport model were used in an optimization scheme to estimate annual release values by facility. The annual releases of about 6.8 × 10(14) Bq from the ANSTO medical isotope production facility are in good agreement with the sampled concentrations at these three IMS sampling locations. Annual release estimates for the facility in South Africa vary from 2.2 × 10(16) to 2.4 × 10(16) Bq, estimates for the facility in Indonesia vary from 9.2 × 10(13) to 3.7 × 10(14) Bq and estimates for the facility in Argentina range from 4.5 × 10(12) to 9.5 × 10(12) Bq.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Judah I Friese
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Justin D Lowrey
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Justin I McIntyre
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Harry S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Brian T Schrom
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA, USA.
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19
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Bowyer TW, Eslinger PW, Cameron IM, Friese JI, Hayes JC, Metz LA, Miley HS. Potential impact of releases from a new molybdenum-99 production facility on regional measurements of airborne xenon isotopes. J Environ Radioact 2014; 129:43-47. [PMID: 24365483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Revised: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The monitoring of the radioactive xenon isotopes (131m)Xe, (133)Xe, (133m)Xe, and (135)Xe is important for the detection of nuclear explosions. While backgrounds of the xenon isotopes are short-lived, they are constantly replenished from activities dominated by the fission-based production of (99)Mo used for medical procedures. At present, one of the most critical locations on earth for the monitoring of nuclear explosions is the Korean peninsula where the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has announced that it conducted three nuclear tests between 2006 and 2013. This paper explores the backgrounds that would be caused by the medium to large scale production of (99)Mo in the region of the Korean peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- T W Bowyer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
| | - P W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - I M Cameron
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - J I Friese
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - J C Hayes
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - L A Metz
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - H S Miley
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
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20
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Eslinger PW, Biegalski SR, Bowyer TW, Cooper MW, Haas DA, Hayes JC, Hoffman I, Korpach E, Yi J, Miley HS, Rishel JP, Ungar K, White B, Woods VT. Source term estimation of radioxenon released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactors using measured air concentrations and atmospheric transport modeling. J Environ Radioact 2014; 127:127-132. [PMID: 24211671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2013.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/18/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Systems designed to monitor airborne radionuclides released from underground nuclear explosions detected radioactive fallout across the northern hemisphere resulting from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. Sampling data from multiple International Modeling System locations are combined with atmospheric transport modeling to estimate the magnitude and time sequence of releases of (133)Xe. Modeled dilution factors at five different detection locations were combined with 57 atmospheric concentration measurements of (133)Xe taken from March 18 to March 23 to estimate the source term. This analysis suggests that 92% of the 1.24 × 10(19) Bq of (133)Xe present in the three operating reactors at the time of the earthquake was released to the atmosphere over a 3 d period. An uncertainty analysis bounds the release estimates to 54-129% of available (133)Xe inventory.
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Affiliation(s)
- P W Eslinger
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Risk and Decision Sciences Group, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K7-76, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
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21
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Bowyer TW, Kephart R, Eslinger PW, Friese JI, Miley HS, Saey PRJ. Maximum reasonable radioxenon releases from medical isotope production facilities and their effect on monitoring nuclear explosions. J Environ Radioact 2013; 115:192-200. [PMID: 22995862 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Revised: 07/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Fission gases such as (133)Xe are used extensively for monitoring the world for signs of nuclear testing in systems such as the International Monitoring System (IMS). These gases are also produced by nuclear reactors and by fission production of (99)Mo for medical use. Recently, medical isotope production facilities have been identified as the major contributor to the background of radioactive xenon isotopes (radioxenon) in the atmosphere (Stocki et al., 2005; Saey, 2009). These releases pose a potential future problem for monitoring nuclear explosions if not addressed. As a starting point, a maximum acceptable daily xenon emission rate was calculated, that is both scientifically defendable as not adversely affecting the IMS, but also consistent with what is possible to achieve in an operational environment. This study concludes that an emission of 5 × 10(9) Bq/day from a medical isotope production facility would be both an acceptable upper limit from the perspective of minimal impact to monitoring stations, but also appears to be an achievable limit for large isotope producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore W Bowyer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, National Security Division, 902 Battelle Blvd, P.O. Box 999, MSIN K8-27, Richland, WA 99354, USA.
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22
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Biegalski SR, Bowyer TW, Eslinger PW, Friese JA, Greenwood LR, Haas DA, Hayes JC, Hoffman I, Keillor M, Miley HS, Moring M. Analysis of data from sensitive U.S. monitoring stations for the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactor accident. J Environ Radioact 2012; 114:15-21. [PMID: 22137556 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 11/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The March 11, 2011 9.0 magnitude undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan and subsequent tsunami waves triggered a major nuclear event at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station. At the time of the event, units 1, 2, and 3 were operating and units 4, 5, and 6 were in a shutdown condition for maintenance. Loss of cooling capacity to the plants along with structural damage caused by the earthquake and tsunami resulted in a breach of the nuclear fuel integrity and release of radioactive fission products to the environment. Fission products started to arrive in the United States via atmospheric transport on March 15, 2011 and peaked by March 23, 2011. Atmospheric activity concentrations of (131)I reached levels of 3.0×10(-2) Bqm(-3) in Melbourne, FL. The noble gas (133)Xe reached atmospheric activity concentrations in Ashland, KS of 17 Bqm(-3). While these levels are not health concerns, they were well above the detection capability of the radionuclide monitoring systems within the International Monitoring System of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
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Affiliation(s)
- S R Biegalski
- The University of Texas at Austin, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory, 1 University Station, R9000, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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23
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Felizardo M, Girard TA, Morlat T, Fernandes AC, Ramos AR, Marques JG, Kling A, Puibasset J, Auguste M, Boyer D, Cavaillou A, Poupeney J, Sudre C, Miley HS, Payne RF, Carvalho FP, Prudêncio MI, Gouveia A, Marques R. Final analysis and results of the Phase II SIMPLE dark matter search. Phys Rev Lett 2012; 108:201302. [PMID: 23003137 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.201302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Revised: 03/15/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report the final results of the Phase II SIMPLE measurements, comprising two run stages of 15 superheated droplet detectors each, with the second stage including an improved neutron shielding. The analyses include a refined signal analysis, and revised nucleation efficiency based on a reanalysis of previously reported monochromatic neutron irradiations. The combined results yield a contour minimum of σp=5.7×10(-3) pb at 35 GeV/c2 in the spin-dependent sector of weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) proton interactions, the most restrictive to date for MW}≤60 GeV/c2 from a direct search experiment and overlapping, for the first time, with results previously obtained only indirectly. In the spin-independent sector, a minimum of 4.7×10(-6) pb at 35 GeV/c2 is achieved, with the exclusion contour challenging a significant part of the light mass WIMP region of current interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Felizardo
- Department of Physics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal and Centro de Física Nuclear, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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24
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Aalseth CE, Barbeau PS, Colaresi J, Collar JI, Diaz Leon J, Fast JE, Fields N, Hossbach TW, Keillor ME, Kephart JD, Knecht A, Marino MG, Miley HS, Miller ML, Orrell JL, Radford DC, Wilkerson JF, Yocum KM. Search for an annual modulation in a p-type Point Contact germanium dark matter detector. Phys Rev Lett 2011; 107:141301. [PMID: 22107183 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.107.141301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Fifteen months of cumulative CoGeNT data are examined for indications of an annual modulation, a predicted signature of weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) interactions. Presently available data support the presence of a modulated component of unknown origin, with parameters prima facie compatible with a galactic halo composed of light-mass WIMPs. Unoptimized estimators yield a statistical significance for a modulation of ∼2.8σ, limited by the short exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Aalseth
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
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25
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Bowyer TW, Biegalski SR, Cooper M, Eslinger PW, Haas D, Hayes JC, Miley HS, Strom DJ, Woods V. Elevated radioxenon detected remotely following the Fukushima nuclear accident. J Environ Radioact 2011; 102:681-687. [PMID: 21530026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We report on the first measurements of short-lived gaseous fission products detected outside of Japan following the Fukushima nuclear releases, which occurred after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. The measurements were conducted at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), (46°16'47″N, 119°16'53″W) located more than 7000 km from the emission point in Fukushima Japan (37°25'17″N, 141°1'57″E). First detections of (133)Xe were made starting early March 16, only four days following the earthquake. Maximum concentrations of (133)Xe were in excess of 40 Bq/m(3), which is more than ×40,000 the average concentration of this isotope is this part of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- T W Bowyer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, National Security Division, PO Box 999, Richland, WA, United States.
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26
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Aalseth CE, Barbeau PS, Bowden NS, Cabrera-Palmer B, Colaresi J, Collar JI, Dazeley S, de Lurgio P, Fast JE, Fields N, Greenberg CH, Hossbach TW, Keillor ME, Kephart JD, Marino MG, Miley HS, Miller ML, Orrell JL, Radford DC, Reyna D, Tench O, Van Wechel TD, Wilkerson JF, Yocum KM. Results from a search for light-mass dark matter with a p-type point contact germanium detector. Phys Rev Lett 2011; 106:131301. [PMID: 21517370 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.106.131301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We report on several features in the energy spectrum from an ultralow-noise germanium detector operated deep underground. By implementing a new technique able to reject surface events, a number of cosmogenic peaks can be observed for the first time. We discuss an irreducible excess of bulklike events below 3 keV in ionization energy. These could be caused by unknown backgrounds, but also dark matter interactions consistent with DAMA/LIBRA. It is not yet possible to determine their origin. Improved constraints are placed on a cosmological origin for the DAMA/LIBRA effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Aalseth
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
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27
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Felizardo M, Morlat T, Fernandes AC, Girard TA, Marques JG, Ramos AR, Auguste M, Boyer D, Cavaillou A, Sudre C, Poupeney J, Payne RF, Miley HS, Puibasset J. First results of the Phase II SIMPLE dark matter search. Phys Rev Lett 2010; 105:211301. [PMID: 21231283 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.211301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2010] [Revised: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We report results of a 14.1 kg d measurement with 15 superheated droplet detectors of total active mass 0.208 kg, comprising the first stage of a 30 kg d Phase II experiment. In combination with the results of the neutron-spin sensitive XENON10 experiment, these results yield a limit of |a(p)|<0.32 for M(W)=50 GeV/c² on the spin-dependent sector of weakly interacting massive particle-nucleus interactions with a 50% reduction in the previously allowed region of the phase space, formerly defined by XENON, KIMS, and PICASSO. In the spin-independent sector, a limit of 2.3×10⁻⁵ pb at M(W)=45 GeV/c² is obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Felizardo
- Department of Physics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
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28
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Keillor ME, Aalseth CE, Day AR, Fast JE, Hoppe EW, Hyronimus BJ, Hossbach TW, Miley HS, Seifert A, Warren GA. Design and construction of an ultra-low-background 14-crystal germanium array for high efficiency and coincidence measurements. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s10967-009-0248-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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29
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Aalseth CE, Barbeau PS, Cerdeño DG, Colaresi J, Collar JI, de Lurgio P, Drake G, Fast JE, Greenberg CH, Hossbach TW, Kephart JD, Marino MG, Miley HS, Orrell JL, Reyna D, Robertson RGH, Talaga RL, Tench O, Van Wechel TD, Wilkerson JF, Yocum KM. Experimental constraints on a dark matter origin for the DAMA annual modulation effect. Phys Rev Lett 2008; 101:251301. [PMID: 19113689 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.101.251301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2008] [Revised: 08/06/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A claim for evidence of dark matter interactions in the DAMA experiment has been recently reinforced. We employ a new type of germanium detector to conclusively rule out a standard isothermal galactic halo of weakly interacting massive particles as the explanation for the annual modulation effect leading to the claim. Bounds are similarly imposed on a suggestion that dark pseudoscalars might lead to the effect. We describe the sensitivity to light dark matter particles achievable with our device, in particular, to next-to-minimal supersymmetric model candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Aalseth
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA
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30
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Fernandes AC, Morlat T, Felizardo M, Collar JI, Puibasset J, Waysand G, Miley HS, Ramos AR, Girard TA, Giuliani F, Limagne D, Marques JG, Martins RC, Oliveira C. The simple SDD. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2006; 120:503-8. [PMID: 16644935 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/nci690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We describe the fabrication and characterisation of the SIMPLE superheated droplet detector, a 10 g active mass device of C(2)ClF(5) in 1-3% weight concentrations currently employed in a direct search for spin-dependent astroparticle dark matter candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Fernandes
- Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10, P-2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal.
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31
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Collar JI, Puibasset J, Girard TA, Limagne D, Miley HS, Waysand G. First dark matter limits from a large-mass, low-background, superheated droplet detector. Phys Rev Lett 2000; 85:3083-3086. [PMID: 11019272 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.85.3083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2000] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We report on the fabrication aspects and calibration of the first large active mass ( approximately 15 g) modules of SIMPLE, a search for particle dark matter using superheated droplet detectors (SDDs). While still limited by the statistical uncertainty of the small data sample on hand, the first weeks of operation in the new underground laboratory of Rustrel-Pays d'Apt already provide a sensitivity to axially coupled weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) competitive with leading experiments, confirming SDDs as a convenient, low-cost alternative for WIMP detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- J I Collar
- Groupe de Physique des Solides (UMR CNRS 75-88), Universites Paris 7 & 6, 75251 Paris Cedex 05, France.
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32
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Aharonov Y, Avignone FT, Brodzinski RL, Collar JI, García E, Miley HS, Morales A, Morales J, Nussinov S, Puimedón J, Reeves JH, Sáenz C, Salinas A, Sarsa ML, Villar JA. New laboratory bounds on the stability of the electron. Phys Rev D Part Fields 1995; 52:3785-3792. [PMID: 10019604 DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.52.3785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
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33
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García E, Morales A, Morales J, Sarsa ML, Cerezo E, Núñez-Lagos R, Puimedón J, Sáenz C, Salinas A, Villar JA, Collar JI, Avignone FT, Brodzinski RL, Miley HS, Reeves JH. Results of a dark matter search with a germanium detector in the Canfranc tunnel. Phys Rev D Part Fields 1995; 51:1458-1464. [PMID: 10018613 DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.51.1458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
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34
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Miley HS, Avignone FT, Brodzinski RL, Collar JI, Reeves JH. Suggestive evidence for the two-neutrino double- beta decay of 76Ge. Phys Rev Lett 1990; 65:3092-3095. [PMID: 10042779 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.65.3092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
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35
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Avignone III, Baktash C, Barker WC, Calaprice FP, Dunford RW, Haxton WC, Kahana D, Kouzes RT, Miley HS, Moltz DM. Search for axions from the 1115-keV transition of 65Cu. Phys Rev D Part Fields 1988; 37:618-630. [PMID: 9958722 DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.37.618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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36
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Avignone III, Miley HS, Brodzinski RL, Reeves JH. Analysis and interpretation of a large body of 76Ge zero-neutrino double- beta -decay data. Phys Rev D Part Fields 1987; 35:1713-1715. [PMID: 9957840 DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.35.1713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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37
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Avignone FT, Brodzinski RL, Evans JC, Hensley WK, Miley HS, Reeves JH. Search for the double- beta decay of 76Ge. Phys Rev C Nucl Phys 1986; 34:666-677. [PMID: 9953500 DOI: 10.1103/physrevc.34.666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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38
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Avignone FT, Brodzinski RL, Hensley WK, Miley HS, Reeves JH. New experimental limit on the stability of the electron. Phys Rev D Part Fields 1986; 34:97-100. [PMID: 9956976 DOI: 10.1103/physrevd.34.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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39
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Avignone FT, Barker WC, Miley HS. Search for anisotropic directional correlations between gamma rays and K x rays emitted from 154Gd. Phys Rev A Gen Phys 1986; 33:4375-4377. [PMID: 9897181 DOI: 10.1103/physreva.33.4375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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40
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Avignone FT, Barker WC, Miley HS, O'Brien HA, Steinkruger FJ, Wanek PM. Near-threshold behavior of pair-production cross sections in a lead target. Phys Rev A Gen Phys 1985; 32:2622-2627. [PMID: 9896396 DOI: 10.1103/physreva.32.2622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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41
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Avignone FT, Brodzinski RL, Brown DP, Evans JC, Hensley WK, Miley HS, Reeves JH, Wogman NA. Ultralow-background study of neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge; new limit on the Majorana mass of nu e. Phys Rev Lett 1985; 54:2309-2312. [PMID: 10031307 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.54.2309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
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