1. NSC KIPT
  2. IFTTMT
  3. Department of pure metals, physics of metals and technology of new materials
Ru En Ua

Scientific-researching laboratory of new technological developments

Project SPS NATO

Project profile

Project title:
Hand-Held Gamma Detector Based on High-Pressure Xenon Gas (Project SfP - 984655 (G4655) of NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme)

Project Co-Directors:

  • Dr. Rohatgi Upendra, Dr. Vinita Ghosh, BNL, Upton, NY, USA (NPD)
  • Dr. Vladimir Kutny, NSC KIPT, Kharkov, Ukraine (PPD)

Duration: 33 months, to be completed in December 2016

Financing: NATO Budget: 222 000 €. Source of other investment: National Science Centre KIPT of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Primary goal

The primary goal of this project is the design and construction of a prototype hand-held gamma detector based on high-pressure xenon (HPXe) for the detection, identification and characterization of radioactive materials.

Application

This detector will be used in security applications to detect whether radioactive materials surrounded by benign cargo are being transported in the normal stream of commerce. Some cargo contains radioactive materials for peaceful purposes (naturally occurring radioactive isotopes, medical and industrial isotopes etc.); other cargo may contain special radioactive materials like weapon grade plutonium intended for malevolent use. Spectrometric identification and characterization of these materials is necessary to determine what radioisotope is present and make a decision on whether it is intended for malevolent use. Detectors with spectrometric capabilities can resolve the gamma spectra of radioactive materials and accurately identify them. Gamma-ray detectors based on HPXe, having an energy resolution of 2.0-2.5 %, are such detectors.

Expected Results

The expected outcome is the design and construction of a functional prototype of a small light-weight, high-pressure xenon detector using high-pressure xenon gas that can be used for the detection, identification and characterization of radioactive materials.

The knowledge and experience gained from this project will be used for the development of large-volume HPXe detectors for Radiation Portal Monitors. Another possible application would be the development of HPXe detectors that can also detect neutrons by the addition of small amounts of 3He to Xe.

Presently a complex vacuum installation for Xe purification and filling a detector chamber with Xe is developed and assembled(Figs. 1-4), and a prototype detector is manufactured (Fig. 5).

In May 2016 the project achievements were presented at the Workshop "NATO SPS Science Day in Kyiv, Ukraine" (Fig. 6).

Fig. 1. Unit for a high-vacuum evacuation. 1. Turbomolecular pump; 2. Ion pump; 3. Pressure transducer; 4. Vacuum valve; 5. High pressure valve.

Fig. 2. Unit intended for work at high pressure of Xe gas. 1. Sample cylinder; 2. Rupture disc tee; 3. Pressure gauge 200 bar; 4. Sample Cylinder; 5. Cylinder with the working gas; 6. High-Purity Stainless Steel Tubing; 7. Work chamber; 8. Pressure transducers.

Fig. 4. The assembled vacuum installation for Xe purification and filling the detector with the installed detector.

Fig. 6. Presentation of the project SfP-984655 (G4655) in Kiev at a seminar "NATO SPS Science Day in Kyiv, Ukraine, 27 May 2016 ".

Fig. 3. Installation assembled on mounting racks.

Fig. 5. Prototype gamma-ray high-pressure xenon detector.