Turkington, G., Gamage, K. A.A. and Graham, J. (2021) The simulated characterization and suitability of semiconductor detectors for strontium 90 assay in groundwater. Sensors, 21(3), 984. (doi: 10.3390/s21030984)
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Abstract
This paper examines the potential deployment of a 10 mm × 10 mm × 1 mm cadmium telluride detector for strontium-90 measurement in groundwater boreholes at nuclear decommissioning sites. Geant4 simulation was used to model the deployment of the detector in a borehole monitoring contaminated groundwater. It was found that the detector was sensitive to strontium-90, yttrium-90, caesium-137, and potassium-40 decay, some of the significant beta emitters found at Sellafield. However, the device showed no sensitivity to carbon-14 decay, due to the inability of the weak beta emission to penetrate both the groundwater and the detector shielding. The limit of detection for such a sensor when looking at solely strontium-90 decay was calculated as 323 BqL−1 after a 1-h measurement and 66 BqL−1 after a 24-h measurement. A gallium-arsenide (GaAs) sensor with twice the surface area, but 0.3% of the thickness was modelled for comparison. Using this sensor, sensitivity was increased, such that the limit of detection for strontium-90 was 91 BqL−1 after 1 h and 18 BqL−1 after 24 h. However, this sensor sacrifices the potential to identify the present radionuclides by their end-point energy. Additionally, the feasibility of using flexible detectors based on solar cell designs to maximise the surface area of detectors has been modelled.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | This research was funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and School of Engineering, University of Glasgow. |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Gamage, Professor Kelum and Turkington, Mr Graeme |
Authors: | Turkington, G., Gamage, K. A.A., and Graham, J. |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy |
Journal Name: | Sensors |
Publisher: | MDPI |
ISSN: | 1424-8220 |
ISSN (Online): | 1424-8220 |
Published Online: | 02 February 2021 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2021 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in Sensors 21(3): 984 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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