Noble gas radionuclides of concern in monitoring a comprehensive test-ban treaty

The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the development of radioanalytical detection programs with the goal of providing near-real-time analysis technology for airborne radionuclides that provide a signature indicative of nuclear weapons testing. If a test were conducted in or above the earth's atmosphere, the full spectrum of fission and activation products, together with residues from the device, would be dispersed into the atmosphere. If, however, a nuclear test were conducted underground or underwater, varying conditions could cause the amount of material released to range from a major to a very minor vent. Although the specific nature of the vent would determine the specific chemistry of the materials released, the vent would mostly consist of the noble gas radionuclides and the radioiodines