Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives

B. Bucher; E. H. Seabury; J. Hix; K. M. Krebs; C. J. Wharton; S. M. McConchie; P. A. Hausladen

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2022.166651

Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives

B. Bucher, E. H. Seabury, J. Hix, K. M. Krebs, C. J. Wharton, S. M. McConchie, P. A. Hausladen

Advanced Radiation Detection, Imaging, D

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

High-resolution prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is performed using the associated particle (AP) technique with a deuterium–tritium neutron generator and high-purity germanium detector. Although the time resolution is inferior compared to similar systems employing fast scintillation γ-ray detectors, the strong background suppression combined with the high γ-ray energy resolution provides an important boost in sensitivity to certain key elements, especially relevant to field measurements of complex chemicals encased within thick layers of metal, such as in recovered chemical warfare (CW) munitions. Results for various CW and explosive simulants contained within mock munitions are presented and compared with results obtained from traditional PGNAA measurements without the aid of the AP technique. Significant improvements in identification and discrimination between certain chemicals are achieved with the high energy resolution AP technique.

Original language	English
Article number	166651
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	1032
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.166651
State	Published - Jun 1 2022

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge A. Caffrey, D. Chichester, J. Johnson (INL), D. Lee (LLNL), J. Simpson (Thermo), W. Hennig (XIA), and C. Freedlund (Aptim) for helpful discussions and also E. Lumley (INL) for help fabricating mechanical components. Fig. 11 was created using the LevelScheme scientific figure preparation system [50]. This work was supported by the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD) and through the INL Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517. The authors would like to acknowledge A. Caffrey, D. Chichester, J. Johnson (INL), D. Lee (LLNL), J. Simpson (Thermo), W. Hennig (XIA), and C. Freedlund (Aptim) for helpful discussions and also E. Lumley (INL) for help fabricating mechanical components. Fig. 11 was created using the LevelScheme scientific figure preparation system [50] . This work was supported by the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD) and through the INL Laboratory Directed Research & Development (LDRD) Program under DOE Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517 .

Keywords

Active neutron interrogation
Associated particle technique
Chemical warfare agents
High explosives
High-purity germanium

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10.1016/j.nima.2022.166651

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Bucher, B., Seabury, E. H., Hix, J., Krebs, K. M., Wharton, C. J., McConchie, S. M., & Hausladen, P. A. (2022). Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 1032, Article 166651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.166651

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title = "Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives",

abstract = "High-resolution prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is performed using the associated particle (AP) technique with a deuterium–tritium neutron generator and high-purity germanium detector. Although the time resolution is inferior compared to similar systems employing fast scintillation γ-ray detectors, the strong background suppression combined with the high γ-ray energy resolution provides an important boost in sensitivity to certain key elements, especially relevant to field measurements of complex chemicals encased within thick layers of metal, such as in recovered chemical warfare (CW) munitions. Results for various CW and explosive simulants contained within mock munitions are presented and compared with results obtained from traditional PGNAA measurements without the aid of the AP technique. Significant improvements in identification and discrimination between certain chemicals are achieved with the high energy resolution AP technique.",

keywords = "Active neutron interrogation, Associated particle technique, Chemical warfare agents, High explosives, High-purity germanium",

author = "B. Bucher and Seabury, {E. H.} and J. Hix and Krebs, {K. M.} and Wharton, {C. J.} and McConchie, {S. M.} and Hausladen, {P. A.}",

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Bucher, B, Seabury, EH, Hix, J, Krebs, KM, Wharton, CJ, McConchie, SM & Hausladen, PA 2022, 'Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 1032, 166651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.166651

Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives. / Bucher, B.; Seabury, E. H.; Hix, J. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 1032, 166651, 01.06.2022.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives

AU - Bucher, B.

AU - Seabury, E. H.

AU - Hix, J.

AU - Krebs, K. M.

AU - Wharton, C. J.

AU - McConchie, S. M.

AU - Hausladen, P. A.

PY - 2022/6/1

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N2 - High-resolution prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is performed using the associated particle (AP) technique with a deuterium–tritium neutron generator and high-purity germanium detector. Although the time resolution is inferior compared to similar systems employing fast scintillation γ-ray detectors, the strong background suppression combined with the high γ-ray energy resolution provides an important boost in sensitivity to certain key elements, especially relevant to field measurements of complex chemicals encased within thick layers of metal, such as in recovered chemical warfare (CW) munitions. Results for various CW and explosive simulants contained within mock munitions are presented and compared with results obtained from traditional PGNAA measurements without the aid of the AP technique. Significant improvements in identification and discrimination between certain chemicals are achieved with the high energy resolution AP technique.

AB - High-resolution prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis (PGNAA) is performed using the associated particle (AP) technique with a deuterium–tritium neutron generator and high-purity germanium detector. Although the time resolution is inferior compared to similar systems employing fast scintillation γ-ray detectors, the strong background suppression combined with the high γ-ray energy resolution provides an important boost in sensitivity to certain key elements, especially relevant to field measurements of complex chemicals encased within thick layers of metal, such as in recovered chemical warfare (CW) munitions. Results for various CW and explosive simulants contained within mock munitions are presented and compared with results obtained from traditional PGNAA measurements without the aid of the AP technique. Significant improvements in identification and discrimination between certain chemicals are achieved with the high energy resolution AP technique.

KW - Active neutron interrogation

KW - Associated particle technique

KW - Chemical warfare agents

KW - High explosives

KW - High-purity germanium

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Bucher B, Seabury EH, Hix J, Krebs KM, Wharton CJ, McConchie SM et al. Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 2022 Jun 1;1032:166651. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2022.166651

Assessment of the associated particle technique with high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy for in-field identification of chemical warfare agents and explosives

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