Study on pulse height discrimination of alpha-ray using ZnS(Ag) scintillation detector; Adaptability to contamination monitoring equipments

Izaki, Kenji ; Ino, Kazuo*; Mizuniwa, Harumi

The contamination control has been carried out by alpha-ray measurement in facilities where handling plutonium like the MOX fuel manufacturing facility and the reprocessing facility, etc. In the case of alpha-ray measurement, it is necessary to consider the influence of radon progeny that is natural radionuclide. The influence of radon progeny has been decreased by pulse height discrimination technique using the semiconductor detector as needed. However, the semiconductor detector has potentially significant problems such as the durability and noise susceptibility. Therefore the accuracy of pulse height discrimination by the ZnS(Ag) scintillation detector was confirmed as alternative to the semiconductor detector. This report shows the accuracy of pulse height discrimination technique using the ZnS(Ag) scintillation detector and evaluates the adaptability to contamination control equipments.