Identification and quantification of a Co radiation source under an intense Cs radiation field using an application-specific CeBr spectrometer suited for use in intense radiation fields

Kaburagi, Masaaki   ; Shimazoe, Kenji*; Kato, Masahiro*; Kurosawa, Tadahiro*; Takahashi, Hiroyuki*

Passive -ray spectroscopy is a useful technique for surveying the radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuels under nuclear decommissioning. However, this method depends on material properties such as the activity, density, element, scale, and (especially) low-energy rays from U and Pu. The -decay lines of Cs, Cs, Co, and Eu occur at greater energies (than those of U and Pu), and these nuclides provide significant information on spent nuclear fuel and radioactive wastes. A CeBr spectrometer with a small-volume crystal has been previously developed for use in intense radiation measurements. We exposed the spectrometer to radiation dose rates of 0.025, 0.151, 0.342, 0.700, and 0.954 Sv/h under a standard Cs radiation field. A 6.38 MBq Co calibration source was placed in front of the detector surface. Identification of the full energy peak at 1173 keV was impossible at dose rates higher than 0.700 Sv/h. However, subtraction of the Cs radiation spectra from the -ray spectra enabled the identification of the full energy peaks at 1173 and 1333 keV at dose rates of up to 0.954 Sv/h; the relative energy resolution at 1173 and 1333 keV was only slightly degraded at this dose rate.