Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Investigation of plastic scintillation detectors for detecting the radioactive materials

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

M. Askari
J. Kochakpour
A. Taheri

Radiation Applications Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 14155-1339, Tehran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2022.1391
Abstract
Nowadays, due to the threats of radioactive materials, control of border and sensitive facilities is of particular importance. For this reason, every year the International Atomic Energy Agency publish a report on the theft, loss or lack of monitoring and control on the movement of the radioactive materials in some countries. Therefore, introducing new methods to deal with such threats is essential. One of the most effective systems for detecting radioactive materials and contaminants are radioactive portal monitors. In this study, the results of performance evaluation of large plastic scintillation detectors for use in this type of monitoring systems are presented. Initially, the design and construction of detection circuits, electronic and mechanical holders were done. Then, the functional tests of the device were performed using 60Co and 137Cs sources. Finally, the minimum detectable activity using this monitoring device was determined. The results of the tests to determine the minimum detectable activity of the system showed that it can detect a 60Co source with a minimum activity of 1 µCi at a maximum distance of 100 cm and a 137Cs source with a minimum activity of 2 µCi at a maximum distance of 75 cm. Regard to the obtained results, it was found that the developed monitoring system has the ability to detect the radioactive sources with good accuracy.

Highlights

  1. IAEA-TECDOC-1596-CD, Improvement of Technical Measures to Detect and Respond to Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials, (2008).

 

  1. J. Ely, R. Kouzes, The use of energy windowing to discriminate SNM from NORM in radiation portal monitors, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2(373-387), 560 (2006).

 

  1. https://www-news.iaea.org/erfview.aspx?mid=47f42a

04-547c-47a2-ae26-16f490158890.

 

  1. K. Guthe, The Global Nuclear Detection Architecture and the Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism, Comparative Strategy, 33(5), 424-450 (2014).

 

  1. R. Coogan, C. Marianno, W. Charlton, A strategic analysis of stationary radiation portal monitors and mobile detection systems in border monitoring, Nuclear Engineering and Technology, (2019).

 

  1. S.S. Nafee, M.I. Abbas, A theoretical approach to calibrate radiation portal monitor (RPM) systems, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 1474-1477 (2008).

 

  1. L.A. McLay, J.D. Lloyd, E. Niman, Interdicting nuclear material on cargo containers using knapsack problem models, Annals of Operations Research, 187(1), 185-205 (2011).

 

  1. M.G. Paff, S.D. Clarke, S.A. Pozzi, Organic liquid scintillation detector shape and volume impact on radiation portal monitors, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, (2016).

 

  1. Y. Kim, et al, Inverse Calibration Matrix Algorithm for Radiation Detection Portal Monitors, Radiation Physics and Chemistry, (2018).

 

  1. D. Stromswold, et al, Field tests of a NaI(T1)-based vehicle portal monitor at border crossings, In IEEE Symposium Conference Record Nuclear Science, Rome, (2004).

 

  1. C. Lee, W.-G. Shin, Validation of energy-weighted algorithm for radiation portal monitor using plastic scintillator, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 107, 160-164 (2016).

 

  1. T. Grisa, D. Sas, On the ratio distribution of energy windowing algorithms for radiation portal monitors, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 132, 195-199 (2018).

 

  1. G.F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, New York, Wiley, (2010)

Keywords

Radiation portal monitors
Plastic scintillation
Radiation sources
Minimum detectable activity
  1. IAEA-TECDOC-1596-CD, Improvement of Technical Measures to Detect and Respond to Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials, (2008).

 

  1. J. Ely, R. Kouzes, The use of energy windowing to discriminate SNM from NORM in radiation portal monitors, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2(373-387), 560 (2006).

 

  1. https://www-news.iaea.org/erfview.aspx?mid=47f42a

04-547c-47a2-ae26-16f490158890.

 

  1. K. Guthe, The Global Nuclear Detection Architecture and the Deterrence of Nuclear Terrorism, Comparative Strategy, 33(5), 424-450 (2014).

 

  1. R. Coogan, C. Marianno, W. Charlton, A strategic analysis of stationary radiation portal monitors and mobile detection systems in border monitoring, Nuclear Engineering and Technology, (2019).

 

  1. S.S. Nafee, M.I. Abbas, A theoretical approach to calibrate radiation portal monitor (RPM) systems, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 1474-1477 (2008).

 

  1. L.A. McLay, J.D. Lloyd, E. Niman, Interdicting nuclear material on cargo containers using knapsack problem models, Annals of Operations Research, 187(1), 185-205 (2011).

 

  1. M.G. Paff, S.D. Clarke, S.A. Pozzi, Organic liquid scintillation detector shape and volume impact on radiation portal monitors, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, (2016).

 

  1. Y. Kim, et al, Inverse Calibration Matrix Algorithm for Radiation Detection Portal Monitors, Radiation Physics and Chemistry, (2018).

 

  1. D. Stromswold, et al, Field tests of a NaI(T1)-based vehicle portal monitor at border crossings, In IEEE Symposium Conference Record Nuclear Science, Rome, (2004).

 

  1. C. Lee, W.-G. Shin, Validation of energy-weighted algorithm for radiation portal monitor using plastic scintillator, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 107, 160-164 (2016).

 

  1. T. Grisa, D. Sas, On the ratio distribution of energy windowing algorithms for radiation portal monitors, Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 132, 195-199 (2018).

 

  1. G.F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, New York, Wiley, (2010)

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