Phoswich Detectors for Flow Monitoring of Actinide Solutions with Simultaneous α and β(γ) Counting

Abstract

Characteristics of ZnS(Ag)/NE102A and ZnS(Ag)/stilbene phoswich detectors for simultaneous α- and β(γ)-counting have been examined. The pulse-shape discrimination between α- and β(γ)-rays was extremely good (a figure of merit: 8-11) and the tailings from each other were negligibly small (≤0.03%). In order to apply the ZnS(Ag)/NE102A phoswich to practical flow monitoring for actinide solutions, the effects of the radiation energy and Au- and Al-Mylar films for protection of the phoswich on the discrimination were examined in detail. A flow monitoring test was successfully performed for various concentrations of enriched uranium solutions using the phoswich protected with the films. © 1994 Taylor & Francis Ltd.