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DOE OSTI2024

Proton Quenching in Rare-Earth Inorganic Scintillators: GAGG:Ce and YSO:Ce

Scintillator detectors are an integral component of radiation detection systems for a variety of applications such as medical imaging, accelerator diagnostics, and space science. Typically, a scintillator detector’s response is characterized using gamma sources to understand the detection response to different types of radiation, including charged particle detection. However, there exists a nonlinearity of the amount of light produced from an incident gamma ray of specific energy and the light produced from an incident charged particle of the same energy. This important effect, known as quenching, must be accounted for to interpret energies from charged particles incident on detectors. In this article, we present results of quenching parameterization for two types of cerium-doped inorganic scintillators, Y2SiO5:Ce (YSO:Ce) and Gd3Al2Ga3O12:Ce (GAGG:Ce). We measured the light output from incident proton energies from 1 to 25 MeV using a 3-MV tandem accelerator and two reactions: Au(p,p)Au and 3He(d,p)⁴He. Using gamma-ray sources to calibrate the detectors, we compared the measured electron-equivalent energy versus the incident energy expected. Using an adaptation of the Birks semi-empirical formula, we extracted the Birks parameter (kB) to understand quenching. For one of the GAGG:Ce samples, the kB parameter of 0.0072 [g cm-2 MeV-1] is comparable to a similar study where the value of kB was 0.0065 [g cm-2 MeV-1]. For YSO:Ce, no other kB values were found in the literature. Three different types of GAGG:Ce were used to collect measurements of kB as a function of dopant concentration.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

On the use of a single-fiber multipoint plastic scintillation detector for {sup 192}Ir high-dose-rate brachytherapy

Purpose: The goal of this study was to prove the feasibility of using a single-fiber multipoint plastic scintillation detector (mPSD) as an in vivo verification tool during {sup 192}Ir high-dose-rate brachytherapy treatments.Methods: A three-point detector was built and inserted inside a catheter-positioning template placed in a water phantom. A hyperspectral approach was implemented to discriminate the different optical signals composing the light output at the exit of the single collection optical fiber. The mPSD was tested with different source-to-detector positions, ranging from 1 to 5 cm radially and over 10.5 cm along the longitudinal axis of the detector, and with various integration times. Several strategies for improving the accuracy of the detector were investigated. The device's accuracy in detecting source position was also tested.Results: Good agreement with the expected doses was obtained for all of the scintillating elements, with average relative differences from the expected values of 3.4 {+-} 2.1%, 3.0 {+-} 0.7%, and 4.5 {+-} 1.0% for scintillating elements from the distal to the proximal. A dose threshold of 3 cGy improved the general accuracy of the detector. An integration time of 3 s offered a good trade-off between precision and temporal resolution. Finally, the mPSD measured the radioactive source positioning uncertainty to be no more than 0.32 {+-} 0.06 mm. The accuracy and precision of the detector were improved by a dose-weighted function combining the three measurement points and known details about the geometry of the detector construction.Conclusions: The use of a mPSD for high-dose-rate brachytherapy dosimetry is feasible. This detector shows great promise for development of in vivo applications for real-time verification of treatment delivery.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-526: On the Linearity, Stability and Beam Energy Dependence of CdSe Quantum Dots as Scintillating Probes

Purpose: Structure and energy transfer mechanisms confer colloidal quantum dots (cQDs) interesting properties, among them their potential as scintillators. CdSe multi-shell cQDs in powder were investigated under photons irradiation. The purpose of this work is to characterize signal to dose linearity, stability with time and to quantify the dependence of their light output with beam energy. Methods: The cQDs are placed at the extremity of a non-scintillating plastic collecting fiber, with the other extremity connected to an Apogee U2000C CCD camera. The CCD camera collects the fluorescence light from irradiated cQDs from which the delivered dose is extracted. This signal is corrected for Cerenkov contamination at MV energies using the chromatic technique. The detector was irradiated with two devices: Xstrahl 200 orthovoltage unit for 120, 180 and 220 kVp and a Varian Clinac iX for 6 and 23 MV. Results: Linear output response with varying dose is observed for all beam energies with R2 factors > 0,999. Reproducibility measurements were performed at 120 kVp: the same set-up was irradiated at different time intervals (one week and three months). The results showed only a small relative decrease of light output of 3,2 % after a combine deposited dose of approximately 95 Gy. CdSe nanocrystals response has been studied as a function of beam energy. The output increases with decreasing energy from 120 kVp to 6 MV and increase again for 23 MV. This behavior could be explained in part by the cQDs high-Z composition. Conclusion: The fluorescence light output of CdSe cQDs was found to be linear as a function of dose. The results suggest stability of the scintillation output of cQDs over time. The specific composition of cQDs is the main cause of the observed energy dependence. We will further look into particle beam dependence of the cQDs. Bourse d'excellence aux etudes graduees du CRC (Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Universite Laval) Bourse d'excellence aux etudes graduees du CRC (Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer, Universite Laval)

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-553: Characterization of Plastic Scintillator Detectors for Radiation Therapy

Purpose: To characterize basic performance of plastic scintillator detectors (PSD) designed for dosimetry of radiation therapy. Methods: The Exradin W1 Scintillator is a plastic scintillating fiber-based detector designed for highly accurate measurement of small radiotherapy fields used in patient plan verification and machine commissioning and QA procedures. The Cerenkov emissions were corrected using spectral separation. The optical signal was converted to electronic signal with a photodiode. We measured its dosimetry performance, including percentage depth dose, output factor, dose and dose rate linear response. We compared the dosimetry results with reference ion chamber measurements. Results: The dosimetry results of PSD agree well with reference ion chamber measurements. For percentage depth dose, the differences between PSD and ion chamber results are on average 1.7±1.1% and 0.8±0.8% with a maximum of 3.5% and 2.7% for 6MV and 15MV beams, respectively. For the output factors, PSD measurements are within 2% from ion chamber results. The dose linear response is within 1% when dose is larger than 20 MU for both 6 MV and 15 MV. The dose rate linear response is within 1% for the entire dose rate used (100 MU/min to 600MU/min). Conclusions: The current design of PSD is feasible for the dosimtry measurement in radiation therapy. This combination of PSD and photodiode system could be extended to multichannel array detection of dose distribution. It might as well be used as range verification in proton therapy. The work is partially supported by: DOD (W81XWH-09-2-0174) and American Cancer Society (IRG-78-002-28)

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-F-BRE-07: Experimental Validation of a Lung SBRT Technique Using a Novel, True Volumetric Plenoptic-Plastic-Scintillator Detector

Purpose: Lung SBRT is being used by an increasing number of clinics, including our center which recently treated its first patient. In order to validate this technique, the 3D dose distribution of the SBRT plan was measured using a previously developed 3D detector based on plenoptic camera and plastic scintillator technology. The excellent agreement between the detector measurement and the expected dose from the treatment planning system Pinnacle{sup 3} shows great promise and amply justify the development of the technique. Methods: The SBRT treatment comprised 8 non-coplanar 6MV photon fields with a mean field size of 12 cm{sup 2} at isocentre and a total prescription dose of 12Gy per fraction for a total of 48Gy. The 3D detector was composed of a 10×10×10 cm{sup 2} EJ-260 water-equivalent plastic scintillator embedded inside a truncated cylindrical acrylic phantom of 10cm radius. The scintillation light was recorded using a static R5 light-field camera and the 3D dose was reconstructed at a 2mm resolution in all 3 dimensions using an iterative backprojection algorithm. Results: The whole 3D dose distribution was recorded at a rate of one acquisition per second. The mean absolute dose difference between the detector and Pinnacle{sup 3} was 1.3% over the region with more than 10% of the maximum dose. 3D gamma tests performed over the same region yield passing rates of 98.8% and 96.6% with criteria of 3%/1mm and 2%/1mm, respectively. Conclusion: Experimental results showed that our beam modeling and treatment planning system calculation was adequate for the safe administration of small field/high dose techniques such as SBRT. Moreover, because of the real-time capability of the detector, further validation of small field rotational, dynamic or gated technique can be monitored or verified by this system.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

TU-F-BRE-01: A High Resolution Micro Fiber Scintillator Detector Optimized for SRS and SBRT in Vivo Real Time Treatment Verification

Purpose: We have built a high resolution real time scintillating fiber detector prototype to determine in real time the accuracy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments when only a fraction of the planned dose was delivered. The motivation of this work is to enhance dose delivery accuracy and to achieve error free radiosurgery. Methods: A high density array of scintillating fibers and a high speed photo detectors array were integrated to implement a high resolution real time dosimeter that can sample with high resolution pulsed SRS and SBRT beams cross sections. The high efficiency of the developed system allows to read each linac pulse in real time and to compute the accumulated dose and dose errors when only a fraction of the beam was delivered. The fibers are highly packed in a substrate that is directly coupled to two 128 pixel arrays with a pitch matching the fiber spacing to achieve accurate spatial localization. The small cross section of the fiber array allows stacking multiple fiber arrays to measure independent angular profiles that are digitally processed in parallel for real time dosimetry. Results: We implemented a high density array detector prototype with a pitch of 0.5 mm, readout speed of 1.2 msec, and a response time of 0.5 usec. The fast reading speed has the capability to determining the dose in flattening free filter beams. The detector can be installed in transmission mode at the output port of a micro-MLC. Treatment deviations smaller than 3% are detected when less than 1/100 of the planned dose was delivered. Conclusions: We built a prototype of a high resolution fiber scintillator array detector for SRS and SBRT in vivo dosimetry. Results show that the developed detector has the potential to assure error free SRS and SBRT treatments.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-D-213-03: Towards An Optimized 3D Scintillation Dosimetry Tool for Quality Assurance of Dynamic Radiotherapy Techniques

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to simulate a multi-focus plenoptic camera used as the measuring device in a real-time three-dimensional scintillation dosimeter. Simulating and optimizing this realistic optical system will bridge the technological gap between concept validation and a clinically viable tool that can provide highly efficient, accurate and precise measurements for dynamic radiotherapy techniques. Methods: The experimental prototype, previously developed for proof of concept purposes, uses an off-the-shelf multi-focus plenoptic camera. With an array of interleaved microlenses of different focal lengths, this camera records spatial and angular information of light emitted by a plastic scintillator volume. The three distinct microlens focal lengths were determined experimentally for use as baseline parameters by measuring image-to-object magnification for different distances in object space. A simulated plenoptic system was implemented using the non-sequential ray tracing software Zemax: this tool allows complete simulation of multiple optical paths by modeling interactions at interfaces such as scatter, diffraction, reflection and refraction. The active sensor was modeled based on the camera manufacturer specifications by a 2048×2048, 5 µm-pixel pitch sensor. Planar light sources, simulating the plastic scintillator volume, were employed for ray tracing simulations. Results: The microlens focal lengths were determined to be 384, 327 and 290 µm. A realistic multi-focus plenoptic system, with independently defined and optimizable specifications, was fully simulated. A f/2.9 and 54 mm-focal length Double Gauss objective was modeled as the system’s main lens. A three-focal length hexagonal microlens array of 250-µm thickness was designed, acting as an image-relay system between the main lens and sensor. Conclusion: Simulation of a fully modeled multi-focus plenoptic camera enables the decoupled optimization of the main lens and microlens specifications. This work leads the way to improving the 3D dosimeter’s achievable resolution, efficiency and build for providing a quality assurance tool fully meeting clinical needs. M.R. is financially supported by a Master’s Canada Graduate Scholarship from the NSERC. This research is also supported by the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Optical Design.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

SU-E-T-486: In Vivo Skin Dosimetry Using the Exradin W1 Plastic Scintillation Detector for Passively Scattered Proton Beam Therapy

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of plastic scintillation detectors used for skin dosimetry of patients undergoing passive scatter proton therapy. Methods: Following an IRB approved protocol, six patients undergoing passively scattered proton beam therapy for prostate cancer were selected for in vivo skin dosimetry using the Exradin W1 plastic scintillator. The detector was calibrated on a Cobalt-60 unit, and phantom measurements in the proton beam with the W1 and a calibrated parallel plate ion chamber were used to account for the under-response due to high LET at energies used for treatment. Measurements made in a heated water tank were used to account for temperature dependence. For in vivo measurements, the W1 is fixed to the patient’s skin with medical tape in the center of each of two laterally opposed treatment fields. Measurements will be performed once per week for each patient for the duration of treatment, for a total of thirty six measurements. The measured dose will be compared to the expected dose, extracted from the Eclipse treatment planning system. The average difference over all measurements and per-patient will be computed, as well as standard deviations. Results: The calibrated detector exhibited a 7% under-response in 225 and 250 MeV beams, and a 4% under-response when used at 37 °C (relative to the response at the calibration temperature of 20 °C). Patient measurements are ongoing. Conclusion: The Exradin W1 plastic scintillator detector is a strong candidate for in vivo skin dosimetry in passively scattered proton beams as PSDs are water equivalent and very small (2mm in diameter), permitting accurate measurements that do not perturb the delivered dose. This project was supported in part by award number CA182450 from the National Cancer Institute.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-C-207A-03: Development of Proton CT Imaging System Using Thick Scintillator and CCD Camera

Purpose: In the treatment planning of proton therapy, Water Equivalent Length (WEL), which is the parameter for the calculation of dose and the range of proton, is derived by X-ray CT (xCT) image and xCT-WEL conversion. However, about a few percent error in the accuracy of proton range calculation through this conversion has been reported. The purpose of this study is to construct a proton CT (pCT) imaging system for an evaluation of the error. Methods: The pCT imaging system was constructed with a thick scintillator and a cooled CCD camera, which acquires the two-dimensional image of integrated value of the scintillation light toward the beam direction. The pCT image is reconstructed by FBP method using a correction between the light intensity and residual range of proton beam. An experiment for the demonstration of this system was performed with 70-MeV proton beam provided by NIRS cyclotron. The pCT image of several objects reconstructed from the experimental data was evaluated quantitatively. Results: Three-dimensional pCT images of several objects were reconstructed experimentally. A finestructure of approximately 1 mm was clearly observed. The position resolution of pCT image was almost the same as that of xCT image. And the error of proton CT pixel value was up to 4%. The deterioration of image quality was caused mainly by the effect of multiple Coulomb scattering. Conclusion: We designed and constructed the pCT imaging system using a thick scintillator and a CCD camera. And the system was evaluated with the experiment by use of 70-MeV proton beam. Three-dimensional pCT images of several objects were acquired by the system. This work was supported by JST SENTAN Grant Number 13A1101 and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 15H04912.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-J-51: A Cone-Based Scintillator Detector for IGRT QA for Scattered and Scanning Proton Therapy

Purpose: IGRT commissioning and QA are critical components for precise delivery of proton treatment beams to patients. In order to ensure high quality IGRT, a new cone-based scintillator detector was evaluated for our QA activities for double-scattered and scanning proton modalities. This allows a routine evaluation of the gantry-angle dependent position offset between the radiation and imaging. Methods: The cone-based scintillator detector (XRV-124, Logos Systems, Int’l CA, USA) features a unique configuration of measuring stereotactic paths of proton and x-ray beams in a single setup with arbitrary gantry angles. For the beams-eye-view (BEV) analysis of x-ray crosshair images, a cylindrical representation of the cone image was newly developed. The calibration accuracy was evaluated using different CT resolutions for a range of 55 – 95mm in patient’s cranial direction and ±9mm in the lateral direction. Energy-dependent spot sizes (σ) of pencil beams were characterized and compared to measurements by the MatriXX detector (IBA, Germany). Iso-centric deviations between radiation and x-ray imaging were characterized as a function of gantry angle. Results: The position calibration of the detector was successfully verified with a reproducible positioning by x-ray imaging. The measurements were reproducible within clinical tolerances (±1mm). The spot size vs. energy at zero gantry angle measured with the scintillating cone detector agreed with the MatriXX detector measurements within 17%. Conclusion: The new approach to investigate the accuracy of IGRT and pencil beam properties could successfully be implemented into the QA program. The system will improve efficiency in our QA activities for proton treatments.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-09: In Phantom Full-Implant Validation of Plastic Scintillation Detectors for in Vivo Dosimetry During Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy

Purpose: To validate in a water phantom the use of plastic scintillation detectors to measure dose to the urethra and the rectal wall during a clinically realistic low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy implant. Methods: A template was designed to replicate a clinically realistic LDR brachytherapy prostate implant inside a water phantom. Twenty-two catheters were inserted, including one mimicking the urethra and another the rectal wall. The needles inserted in the remaining 20 catheters were composed of thin-walled nylon tubes in which I-125 radioactive seeds (Air Kerma Strengths of (0.328±0.020)U) were abutted together with plastic spacers to replicate a typical loading. A plastic scintillation detector (PSD) with a 5-mm long × 1-mm diameter sensitive element was first placed inside the urethra and 1-second measurements were performed for 60s after each needle implant. Measurements were also performed at multiple positions along the urethra once all the needles were inserted. The procedure was then repeated with the PSD placed at the rectal wall. Results: Individual dose-rates ranging from 0.07µGy/s to 1.5µGy/s were measured after each needle implant. The average absolute relative differences were (6.2±3.6)% and (6.9±6.5)% to the values calculated with the TG-43 formalism, for the urethra and rectal wall respectively. These results are within expectations from the error uncertainty budget once accounting for uncertainties in seeds’ strength and positioning. Interestingly, the PSD allowed for unplanned error detection as the study was performed. Finally, the measured dose after the full implant at different positions along the mimicked organs at risk were in agreement with TG-43 values for all of the positions tested. Conclusion: Plastic scintillation detectors could be used as in vivo detectors for LDR brachytherapy as they would provide accurate dose information after each needle implant as well as along the organs at risk at the end of the implant.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

SU-F-T-11: Scintillator Based Quality Assurance Device for HDR Brachytherapy

Purpose: To build a test device for HDR afterloaders capable of checking source positions, times at positions and estimate the activity of the source. Methods: A catheter is taped on a plastic scintillation sheet. When a source travels through the catheter, the scintillator sheet lights up around the source. The sheet is monitored with a video camera, and records the movement of the light spot. The center of the spot on each image on the video provides the source location, and the time stamps of the images can provide the dwell time the source spend in each location. Finally, the brightness of the light spot is related to the activity of the source. A code was developed for noise removal, calibrate the scale of the image to centimeters, eliminate the distortion caused by the oblique view angle, identifying the boundaries of the light spot, transforming the image into binary and detect and calculate the source motion, positions and times. The images are much less noisy if the camera is shielded. That requires that the light spot is monitored in a mirror, rather than directly. The whole assembly is covered from external light and has a size of approximately 17×35×25cm (H×L×W) Results: A cheap camera in BW mode proved to be sufficient with a plastic scintillator sheet. The best images were resulted by a 3mm thick sheet with ZnS:Ag surface coating. The shielding of the camera decreased the noise, but could not eliminate it. A test run even in noisy condition resulted in approximately 1 mm and 1 sec difference from the planned positions and dwell times. Activity tests are in progress. Conclusion: The proposed method is feasible. It might simplify the monthly QA process of HDR Brachytherapy units.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

TH-CD-201-10: Highly Efficient Synchronized High-Speed Scintillation Camera System for Measuring Proton Range, SOBP and Dose Distributions in a 2D-Plane

Purpose: Proton therapy (PT) delivery is complex and extremely dynamic. Therefore, quality assurance testing is vital, but highly time-consuming. We have developed a High-Speed Scintillation-Camera-System (HS-SCS) for simultaneously measuring multiple beam characteristics. Methods: High-speed camera was placed in a light-tight housing and dual-layer neutron shield. HS-SCS is synchronized with a synchrocyclotron to capture individual proton-beam-pulses (PBPs) at ∼504 frames/sec. The PBPs from synchrocyclotron trigger the HS-SCS to open its shutter for programmed exposure-time. Light emissions within 30×30×5cm3 plastic-scintillator (BC-408) were captured by a CCD-camera as individual images revealing dose-deposition in a 2D-plane with a resolution of 0.7mm for range and SOBP measurements and 1.67mm for profiles. The CCD response as well as signal to noise ratio (SNR) was characterized for varying exposure times, gains for different light intensities using a TV-Optoliner system. Software tools were developed to analyze ∼5000 images to extract different beam parameters. Quenching correction-factors were established by comparing scintillation Bragg-Peaks with water scanned ionization-chamber measurements. Quenching corrected Bragg-peaks were integrated to ascertain proton-beam range (PBR), width of Spared-Out-Bragg-Peak (MOD) and distal.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Studying the characteristics of scintillation counters in a beam of relativistic particles

In this work, the results of the measurements of characteristics of 40-cm and 2-m scintillation counters irradiated by a particle beam with a momentum of 7 GeV/c from the accelerator of the Institute for High Energy Physics are presented. The scintillators used in counters are BC-404 and BC-408 scintillators. The counters are viewed from both ends by R1828-01 photomultiplier tubes. The PMT signal spectra are well described by a convolution of the Landau and Gaussian distributions. Their width is determined mainly by fluctuations of ionization energy losses. The time distributions of the signals obey the Gaussian law. For the 40-cm counter, the time resolution is σ(T) = 88 ps; for the 2-m counter, it varies from 120–160 ps in its center to ~100 ps near the end.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Characteristics of the 2 m long scintillation counters measured by detecting 90 MeV protons

The characteristics of scintillation counters measured in a 90-MeV proton beam have been presented. Two-meter long scintillators BC-404 and BC-408, which were viewed from both ends with photoelectron multipliers R1828-01 (PMT) have been used. Both the amplitude and time distributions of the PMT signals are well described by the Gaussian function. It turned out that the amplitude resolution σ(А)/А weakly depends on the type of scintillator and the proton position along the counter, and lies in the interval between 4 and 5%. The best time resolution σ(T) is about 50 ps near the counter ends and 63 ps at the center.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Neutron flux measurement at the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope

The characteristics of fast neutrons produced by cosmic-ray muons at the Baksan Underground Scintillation Telescope (BUST) are investigated. A novel approach to the problem consists in estimating the neutron flux by the production rate of the unstable radioactive nuclide {sup 12}B in the (n, p) reaction on carbon nuclei of the BUST organic scintillator. The processing of the data collected in 2002–2015 yielded N{sub 12{sub B}}=337±2.5 events consistent with those of the reaction {sup 12}C(n, p){sup 12}B. For the BUST internal planes, the background of fast neutrons with E > 28.6 MeV is experimentally estimated as Φ ∝ 10{sup −11}cm{sup –2} s{sup –1}. This is lower than the theoretically predicted total neutron flux by nearly two orders of magnitude. The disagreement with predictions is attributed to the suppression of neutron flux in the external scintillator planes of the detector.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Synthesis and Tests of a 1-m{sup 3} Scintillator Based on Linear Alkylbenzene

The stability of a liquid organic scintillator based on linear alkylbenzene in a volume of 1 m{sup 3} was measured. The measurements were performed using an iDREAM reactor antineutrino detector at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute. No systemic degradation of the scintillator light yield within an observation time of 225 days was observed. These long-term stability measurements of a large-volume liquid organic scintillator based on linear alkylbenzene are the first in Russia.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Measurement of tritium with plastic scintillator surface improvement with plasma treatment

Tritium is usually measured by using a liquid scintillation counter. However, liquid scintillator used for measurement will become radioactive waste fluid. To solve this issue, we have developed a method of measuring tritium samples with plasma-treated plastic scintillator (PS)sheets (Plasma method). The radioactive sample is held between 2 PS sheets and the whole is enclosed in a a low-potassium glass vial. With the Plasma method of 2-min plasma treatment, we have obtained measurement efficiency of 48 ± 2 % for 2 min measurement of tritium except for tritiated water. The plasma treatment makes the PS surface rough and hydrophilic which contributes to improve the contact between tritium and PS. On the other hand, it needed almost 6 hours to obtain constant measurement efficiency. The reason was that the dry-up handling in the vial needed longer time to vaporize H{sub 2}O molecules than in the air. We tried putting silica gel beads into vials to remove H{sub 2}O molecules from PS sheet surface quickly. The silica gel beads worked well and we got constant measurement efficiency within 1-3 hours. Also, we tried using other kinds of PS treated with plasma to obtain higher measurement efficiencies of tritium samples.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗