Coincidence Spectrometry for Radionuclide Monitoring (CoSpeR)

This project aims to develop segmented germanium detectors for application in environmental radionuclide monitoring.

Radionuclide monitoring using germanium detectors is an essential cornerstone in verification of the nuclear test ban (CTBT), signed by 186 states, and it has potential use in verification of other nuclear disarmament treaties.The coincidence technique, where two or more simultaneously emitted gamma rays are detected, has in recent years been demonstrated to allow for improved sensitivity for relevant radionuclides, such as Lanthanum-140, by use of dual detector systems.

Segmented detectors offer further advantages over dual detectors that include increased solid-angle coverage of the detector and lower probability of two cascade gammas hitting the same segment.

Even for radionuclides with emission of a single gamma line, improvements can be expected by using coincidence methods, due to better ability to discriminate background from signal.This project includes developing a segmented germanium detector optimized for high sensitivity to key nuclides in nuclear test-ban verification.

For this, an in-house developed simulation framework based on Geant4 will be used.

If successful, this will lead to improved sensitivity in detection of releases of radioactivity to the atmosphere, and improved ability of their localizion.