A fluid-based measurement system for airborne radioxenon surveillance

A new and innovative technique for concentrating heavy noble gases from the atmosphere and subsequently measuring the radioactive xenon isotopes has recently been developed at Argonne National Laboratory. The concentration technique is based on the discovery of a phenomenon where certain organic fluids absorb heavy noble gases with very high efficiency at room temperature and release the noble gases when slightly warmed (about 60 degrees C). Research has been conducted to study the application of this technology to the design of an ultra sensitive radioxenon measurement system. Such a system could be used to monitor or sample the atmosphere for noble gas fission products (133Xe, 133mXe, and 135Xe) generated by nuclear testing. A system that utilizes this fluid-based technology provides a simpler, more portable, less-expensive means of concentrating xenon than current cryogenic techniques and avoids some of the complications associated with charcoal-based systems. Preliminary experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing this fluid-based technology in the design of an atmospheric radioxenon measurement have been very promising and research is continuing toward applying this technology to monitoring activities which support the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)