Noble gas monitoring at the Takasaki radionuclide station of JAEA; Certification by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) Organization

Yamamoto, Yoichi 

The Takasaki radionuclide (RN) station for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has been in operation for monitoring of radioactive noble gases (radioxenon) by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) since 2007, first as a test run prior to receiving the certification. The noble gas system in the station was certified by the CTBT Organization (CTBTO) on December 19, 2014. Monitoring of radioxenon is expected to have a particularly valuable role in detection of an underground nuclear test. The Takasaki RN station detected radioxenon isotopes simultaneously with radioactive concentration exceeding normal background range in April, 2013. This abnormal event was identified as being associated with the nuclear test declared by North Korea in February, 2013. Since the Takasaki RN station is located at the east end of Asia, it is receiving widespread international attention as the station for radionuclides dispersed by the westerlies.