Absolute L X-ray intensities in the decays of 230Th, 234U, 238Pu and 244Cm

Prospects on Low-Z Elements K Fluorescence and Actinide-Radionuclides L Fluorescence X-Ray Detection With Cooled CZT

“…The relative intensity of the following lines (or group of lines) of Pu and Np: , , , , , , is summarized in Table I. The typical values found in literature [21], [24] attest the very good agreement for all lines of Pu. For the Np lines the agreement is also very good, except for the low intensity lines and , which may be explained by the reduced X-rays transmission through the m Au protection window ( and , respectively [26]) and by the presence of the Au fluorescence peak in the spectrum.…”

“…(AMERSHAM) emits a main nuclear -ray line with energy of 42.84 keV and Pu L X-ray lines (Table I, Section III) [18], [21].…”

“…4(b)) and of the Cd-Te K escape lines within CZT crystal (Cd , Cd , Te and traces of Te ; see Fig. 4(b)) [18], [21], [23], [24]. Moreover, in the spectrum of we observed two groups of lines from secondary fluorescence radiation emitted from radioactive source materials (9.7 and 11.4 keV attributed to Au and , Charge collection efficiency, CCE, normalized to the value calculated for charge created nearby the cathode versus charge creation distance from the cathode, and (c) absolute charge collection efficiency, CCE, versus charge creation distance from the cathode.…”

“…Note that the fluorescence yields ( ) for Cd-and Te-K shells (K-edges keV and keV, respectively) are very high, and , respectively, being for the Zn K-shell [31]. Moreover, it should be stressed the very low probability to generate escape lines in the L shells of Te, Cd and Zn by the incident L X-ray lines of the high-Z elements as the fluorescence yields are very low ( ) [31]; 2) The L X-rays spectra are free of the nuclear -lines for almost all the actinide radionuclides [18], [21]; 3) The majority of actinide radionuclides exhibit a low abundance of -rays compared with a high abundance of L X-rays [18], [21]; 4) The impossibility of L X-rays itself generate K X-ray escape effects in Cd-and Te-K shells, except in Zn-K shell (K-edge keV), nevertheless, with very small probability given the small Zn fraction in CZT crystal.…”

“…It should be highlighted that most of the actinides exhibit a very low -ray emission while the L X-ray emission is quite strong [18]. The detection of these radionuclides has major importance from the radiologic environmental point of view [19], due to the natural occurrence of and in rocks, soil and water and the fact that the , , , and been products of nuclear weapons testing and of the nuclear fuel cycle in the nuclear energy industry [20], [21].…”