Evaluation of a High Pressure Proportional Counter for the Detection of Radioactive Noble Gases
Abstract
The performance of a modified high pressure proportional counter to detect and resolve 131(m)Xe and 133Xe in a gaseous mixture is evaluated. Modifications to the previous system included the installation of field tubes in the detector, and the use of titanium and zirconium turnings in the purification system. Three external sources were used to determine operational characteristics of the detector, 241Am, 109Cd, and 57Co. The fill gases used were pure argon and pure xenon at pressures of 5, 10, 20 and 50 atmospheres. Optimum resolutions were measured, as a function of anode voltage, for each fill gas at the various pressures tested. Resolutions, with argon fill gas, varied from 3.56 keV for the 60 keV peak of 241 Am to 30.2 keV for the 88 keV peak of 109 Cd. Resolutions with with xenon as the fill gas ranged from 4.4 keV for the 60 keV peak of 241 Am to 22.3 keV for the 122 keV peak of 57Co. Efficiencies in argon were approximately 1 percent and they varied for xenon from 1 to 45 percent. An internal source consisting of 133 Xe, 131(m)Xe, and stable xenon was used in the final phase of the study. The system modifications functioned well; however, the ultimate goal, of resolving the xenon radionuclides, was not conclusively achieved. Some experimental results indicated the presence of the 131(m)Xe in the 133Xe gas, however, more research is necessary to confirm this capability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 10, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA172717
Entities
People
- Roy R. Hedtke
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology