High Resolution Sensor for Nuclear Waste Characterization

76325-Gamma ray spectrometers are an important tool in the characterization of radioactive waste, such as found at many DOE sites. These gamma ray spectrometers require good energy resolution, high detection efficiency, compact size, light weight, portability, and low power requirements. No available spectrometer satisfies all these requirements. This project will investigate a new scintillator that appears to be very promising for gamma ray studies, in view of its excellent energy resolution. Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of applying the new scintillation material towards nuclear waste studies. New dopants and compositions will be examined to optimize the scintillator. Large crystals of the proposed scintillator will be grown, and their scintillation properties and energy resolution will be evaluated. A compact detection system will be built and analyzed in Phase II. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to its use in nuclear waster studies, the new scintillator should have applicability to non-proliferation monitoring, nuclear, high energy, and space physics experiments, medical imaging, NDE, geological exploration, industrial CT imaging, X-ray instrumentation, and materials analysis.