Development of a large-area alpha imaging detector for hand and foot monitors

Morishita, Yuki; Higuchi, Mikio*; Kaneko, Junichi*; Kitagawa, Yuichi*; Akedo, Jun*; Soma, Mitsugu*; Matsui, Hiroaki*

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1057, p.168702_1 - 168702_8, 2023/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2023.168702

This paper describes the development of a large-area imaging detector capable of measuring the detailed distribution of alpha particles on hands and feet for use in entry/exit control monitors in decommissioning sites such as the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The detector was developed using a commercially available ZnS(Ag) scintillator and an electron multiplying CCD camera. The effectiveness of the detector was evaluated by measuring several types of radiation sources, and the results showed that it was possible to detect the position of alpha particles in a very short time, and contamination levels of up to 11 Bq/cm could be visualized. As a result of the minimal detectable surface activity concentration evaluations, 2.0 minutes or more is required to achieve 4 Bq/cm, and 25.0 minutes or more is required to achieve 0.4 Bq/cm. The field of view of the detector was also checked, and it was confirmed that the setup had a field of view that could cover most of the hand and the sole of the shoe. This detector is expected to be useful for preventing internal uptake and decontamination.

Development of a method of evaluating PuO particle diameters using an alpha-particle imaging detector

Morishita, Yuki; Sagawa, Naoki; Takada, Chie; Momose, Takumaro; Takasaki, Koji

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 199(13), p.1376 - 1383, 2023/08

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncad186

It is very important to evaluate the diameters (activity median aerodynamic diameter) of Plutonium dioxide (PuO) particles for internal exposure dose evaluation. In this study, a method of evaluating PuO particle diameters using an alpha-particle imaging detector was developed. PuO particles with different diameters were modeled by Monte Carlo simulation, and the change in the shape of the energy spectrum for each particle diameter was evaluated. Two different patterns were modeled, namely, the case of PuO and the case of PuO (including isotopic composition of Pu). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the PuO particle diameter from the obtained parameters. The simulated diameters and the diameters obtained with the regression model were in good agreement. The advantage of using the alpha-particle imaging detector is to measure the alpha energy spectrum for individual particle, and this allows accurate measurement of particle diameter distribution.

Development of a portable alpha-beta-gamma radioactive material continuous air-monitoring system

Morishita, Yuki

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 1027, p.166258_1 - 166258_7, 2022/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.166258

During the decommissioning process of nuclear facility sites, such as the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS), radioactive contamination due to alpha, beta, and gamma nuclides is present. To accurately detect these nuclides, a new phoswich alpha/beta/gamma detector is proposed and developed. A portable alpha/beta/gamma radiation continuous air-monitoring system is also developed using the proposed phoswich detector for detecting unknown radioactive air contamination. The developed phowich detector features a 6 mm 6 mm 6 mm-stilbene scintillator (first layer) and a 6 mm 6 mm 6 mm-Gd(Ga, Al)O(Ce) (GAGG) scintillator (second layer). The bottom of the GAGG scintillator is optically coupled to a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). The proposed phoswich detector is capable of successfully separating alpha, beta, and gamma nuclides by applying the pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) technique. The alpha energy resolution of the 5.5 MeV alpha particles using was 22.1% at the full width at half maximum (FWHM), whereas the gamma energy resolution of the 0.662 MeV gamma rays was 10.3% FWHM. The energy spectra obtained from the simulations agree well with those obtained from measurements. Continuous alpha-nuclide air measurements were conducted in the basement of a concrete building, where the Rn concentration was approximately 200 Bq/m, using the developed portable continuous air-monitoring system. The measured peaks, which correspond to Bi (6.1 MeV), Po (7.7 MeV), and Po (8.8 MeV), were observed in the alpha spectrum by separating beta and gamma rays. Therefore, the developed monitoring system can be potentially efficient for the early detection of unknown released radioactive materials.

Development of an alpha- and beta-imaging detector using a thin-stilbene plate for radon-222 progeny measurements

Morishita, Yuki

Radiation Measurements, 140, p.106511_1 - 106511_7, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106511

Radon-222 (Rn) is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas, and the measurement of this isotope and its progeny is of interest from the viewpoint of protection against internal exposure. We have developed a new alpha beta-imaging detector combined with a waveform digitizer capable of imaging alpha- and beta-particle locations simultaneously. This detector is used for Rn -progeny measurements. The thin-stilbene plate was optically coupled to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT), and the analog signals from the PSPMT were transferred in parallel to the waveform digitizer. For 5.5-MeV alpha particles, the detection efficiency was 97.2% for 2 steradians, and the energy resolution was 21.6% full width at half maximum (FWHM). The imaging detector was able to discriminate between alpha and beta particles via the pulse-shape-discrimination (PSD) technique, as well as being capable of alpha- and beta-particle imaging. When measuring the Rn progeny, both Bi and Po are imaged simultaneously, and a correlation is found between the positions of Bi and Po. The developed detector will be useful as a Rn detector and in alpha-continuous-air monitoring for nuclear-fuel facilities.

Radon measurements with a compact, organic-scintillator-based alpha/beta spectrometer

Morishita, Yuki; Ye, Y.*; Mata, L.*; Pozzi, S. A.*; Kearfott, K. J.*

Radiation Measurements, 137, p.106428_1 - 106428_7, 2020/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2020.106428

We have developed a compact, organic-scintillator-based alpha/beta spectrometer for radon measurements and have characterized it using a unique, small radon chamber. The spectrometer is composed of a through-silicon via (TSV) silicon photomultiplier (or SiPM) and a 6 mm 6 mm 6 mm stilbene crystal cube. Analog signals from the SiPM are sent to a digitizer. The detector is housed in a light-tight box, with a stacked air filter installed in one side of the box to enable Rn gas to diffuse to the inside. We conducted one experiment with the spectrometer and an AlphaGUARD detector placed in a basement at the University of Michigan, and we conducted other experiments with both detectors placed in a small radon chamber together with Ra sources. By applying a pulse-shape-discrimination technique, we were able to separate the alpha and beta spectra simultaneously and clearly and to measure them quantitatively. We found two peaks in the measured alpha spectrum: a lower-energy peak due to Po and a higher-energy peak due to Po. We found a linear relation between the radon concentration y from AlphaGUARD and the counting rates from the stilbene-SiPM detector. The alpha/beta spectrometer is less than 10 mm thick, and we expect that it will be easy to increase the sensitivity with future device construction. Thus, this compact, organic-scintillator-based alpha/beta spectrometer shows promise for use in novel radon-detection systems.

A Remote continuous air monitoring system for measuring airborne alpha contamination

Morishita, Yuki; Usami, Hiroshi; Furuta, Yoshihiro; Aoki, Katsunori; Tsurudome, Koji; Hoshi, Katsuya; Torii, Tatsuo

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 189(2), p.172 - 181, 2020/04

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncaa028

We developed a remote continuous air monitoring (RCAM) system. The RCAM system consisted of a personal air monitor and a robot. The personal air monitor (poCAMon, SARAD, Germany) had a 400 mm ion-injected silicon detector and a membrane air filter with 25 mm-diameter. The personal air monitor provides the alpha energy spectra for any measurement time interval. Demonstration measurements were taken underground at the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) and at a poorly ventilated concrete building. The RCAM system was remotely operated and successfully measured the Rn progeny even though the relative humidity (RH) was almost 100%. In the measured alpha spectra, the peaks of Po (6.0 MeV alpha) and Po (7.7 MeV alpha) were clearly identified. Our developed monitor is promising for alpha dust monitoring in a high gamma-ray environment or contaminated areas where a worker cannot safely physically enter.

Detection of alpha emitters originating from Fukushima Daiichi Power Station using an alpha imaging detector

Morishita, Yuki; Usami, Hiroshi; Torii, Tatsuo

Isotope News, (765), p.10 - 13, 2019/10

https://www.jrias.or.jp/books/cat3/2019/765.html

This paper reports the development of an alpha particle imaging detector to detect alpha emitters originating from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the actual measurement of smear papers.

Development of an alpha dust monitor using a GPS scintillator plate

Morishita, Yuki; Kaneko, Junichi*; Higuchi, Mikio*; Izaki, Kenji; Yajima, Tatsuo*; Matsuura, Mitsugu*; Tamura, Ken; Torii, Tatsuo

Radiation Measurements, 122, p.115 - 120, 2019/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2019.01.011

Spectroscopic measurements of L X-rays with a TES microcalorimeter for a non-destructive assay of transuranium elements

Nakamura, Keisuke; Morishita, Yuki; Takasaki, Koji; Maehata, Keisuke*; Sugimoto, Tetsuya*; Kiguchi, Yu*; Iyomoto, Naoko*; Mitsuda, Kazuhisa*

Journal of Low Temperature Physics, 193(3-4), p.314 - 320, 2018/11

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-018-1953-9

Development of a new detector system to evaluate position and activity of plutonium particles in nasal cavities

Morishita, Yuki; Yamamoto, Seiichi*; Momose, Takumaro; Kaneko, Junichi*; Nemoto, Norio

Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 178(4), p.414 - 421, 2018/03

https://doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncx127

Plutonium dioxide (PuO) is used to fabricate a mixed oxide fuel for fast breeder reactors. When a glove box containing PuO fails, such as by rupture of a glove or a vinyl bag, airborne contamination of plutonium (Pu) can occur. If the worker inhale PuO particles, they deposit in the lung and cause lung cancer. The nasal smear and nose blow methods are useful for checking workers for PuO intake in the field. However, neither method can evaluate the quantitative activity of Pu. No alpha-particle detector that can be used for direct measurements in the nasal cavity has been developed. Therefore, we developed a nasal monitor capable of directly measuring the activity of Pu in the nasal cavity to precisely evaluate the internal exposure dose of a worker. Prismatic-shaped 22 acrylic light guides were used to compose a detector block, and a ZnS(Ag) scintillator was adhered to the surface of these light guides. Silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays with 88 channels were used as a photodetector. Actual PuO particles were measured using the nasal monitor. The nasal monitor could be directly inserted in the nasal cavities. The activity distribution of Pu was obtained by the nasal monitor. The average efficiencies in 4 were 11.43% and 11.58% for the left and right nasal cavities, respectively. The effect of and rays on the detection of the alpha particles of Pu was negligible. The difference in the measured Pu activity between the ZnS(Ag) scintillation counter and the nasal monitor was within 4.0%. The developed nasal monitor can solve the uncertainty problem encountered with the nasal smear and the nose blow methods. We expect this monitor to be useful for accurately estimating the internal exposure dose of workers.