Phase II testing of Xenon International on Mount Schauinsland, Germany. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brander, Sofia; Baur, Sandra; Krais, Roman; Ross, J. Ole; Orr, Aaron; Sayne, Ryan; Howard, Michael; Mayer, Michael; Panisko, Mark; Hayes, James C.; Bollhöfer, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental radioactivity. Volume 255(2023)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radiation, Background -- Periodicals; Radioecology -- Periodicals; Radioactive pollution -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactive Pollutants -- Periodicals; Radioactivity -- Periodicals; Radioécologie -- Périodiques; Pollution radioactive -- Périodiques; Fond de rayonnement -- Périodiques; 539.752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2022.107034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-931X

Abstract

Abstract: Station RN33 on Mount Schauinsland near Freiburg, Germany, is part of the International Monitoring System monitoring radioxenon in air ( 131m Xe, 133 Xe, 133m Xe, and 135 Xe) for verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Here, we present data from phase II testing of a new system, Xenon International at RN33, July 14th, 2021 to Jan 22nd, 2022, together with SPALAX data from the same time period. Radioxenon could be detected in 473 of 719 samples, among them many multiple isotope detections. Activity concentrations of spiked and selected environmental samples were verified by laboratory reanalysis. The sensitivity of Xenon International for radioxenons is up to one order of magnitude better for the metastable isotopes than that of the SPALAX, with a shorter sampling duration of 6 h. Highlights: Phase II test of a new radioxenon detection system at monitoring station RN33 of the CTBTO International Monitoring System. Radioxenon detected in 66% of samples. 6h sampling time and increased sensitivity compared to SPALAX currently in operation.