Ultrahigh Sensitivity Heavy Noble Gas Detectors for Long-Term Monitoring and for Monitoring Air

The primary objective of this research project is to develop heavy noble gas (krypton, xenon, and radon) detectors for (1) long-term monitoring of transuranic waste, spent fuel, and other uranium and thorium bearing wastes and (2) alpha particle air monitors that discriminate between radon emissions and other alpha emitters. A University of Cincinnati/Argonne National Laboratory (UC/ANL) Team was assembled to complete this detector development project. Effective 1/4/99, the UC PI (John Valentine) became an Associate Professor in the Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Consequently, this project was transferred to Georgia Tech (GT) with the PI. UC funding extended to 1/31/99 and GT funding became active 4/26/99. Due to this transfer, we will refer to the research team as the GT/UC/ANL Team for this Annual Report. Subsequently, we will use GT/ANL Team. DOE needs that are ad dressed by this project include improved long-term monitoring capability and improved air monitoring capability during remedial activities. Successful development and implementation of the proposed detection systems could significantly improve current capabilities with relatively simple and inexpensive equipment