Digital 3-D CdZnTe Applications for National Security and Nuclear Nonproliferation - Department of Nuclear Engineering Digital 3-D CdZnTe Applications for National Security and Nuclear Nonproliferation - Department of Nuclear Engineering

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Digital 3-D CdZnTe Applications for National Security and Nuclear Nonproliferation

February 23, 2017 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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Michael Streicher
Ph.D. Candidate
University of Michigan Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences

Abstract

Rapidly-deployable, commercially-available, room-temperature imaging gamma-ray spectrometers are improving the ability of authorities to intelligently and quickly respond to nuclear threats. New electronics which digitally sample the radiation induced electrical signals in CdZnTe detectors have expanded the capabilities of the sensors. This seminar will explore homeland security applications where digital readout of CdZnTe detectors significantly enhances capabilities.

Radioactive sources can be detected more quickly using digital CdZnTe due to the improved energy resolution. The excellent energy resolution also improves the accuracy of measurements of uranium enrichment and allows users to measure plutonium grade. Small differences in the recorded gamma-ray spectrum can be used to estimate the effective atomic number and mass thickness of materials shielding special nuclear material (SNM) sources. Improved position resolution of gamma-ray interactions through digital readout allow high resolution gamma-ray images of SNM revealing information about the source configuration.

CdZnTe sensors can detect the presence of neutrons, through either thermal neutron capture gamma rays from neutron capture on 113Cd or direct elastic scattering in the detector. Neutrons are a strong indicator of fissile material and the background rate is much lower than for background gamma rays. Neutrons can more easily penetrate shielding materials as well which can greatly aid in the detection of SNM.

Digital CdZnTe readout enables the sensors to maintain excellent energy resolution at high count rates. Pulse pile-up and preamplifier decay can be monitored and corrected for on an event-by-event basis limiting energy resolution degradation in dose rates greater than 100 mR/hr. Finally, new iterations of the digital electronics will enhance gamma-ray detection capabilities at high photon energies. Currently, 2.6 MeV gamma rays have been detected. A measured spectrum shows peaks at 3.1 MeV and 5.1 MeV from neutron capture on 35Cl using the current electronics. High energy photon detection is critical for many proposed active interrogation systems.

Bio of Michael Streicher

Michael Streicher is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Michigan. Mr. Streicher received a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Purdue University and an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Michigan. He specializes in digital readout of semiconductor detectors for national security applications. Mr. Streicher will defend his Ph.D. dissertation in the spring of 2017 and join H3D, Inc. as an engineer. H3D offers room-temperature high-resolution imaging spectrometers employing CdZnTe semiconductors for a wide array of applications.

Details

Date:
February 23, 2017
Time:
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Venue

1202 Burlington Labs
2500 Stinson Drive
Raleigh, NC 27695-7909 United States
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Phone
919.515.2301