München 2004 – scientific programme

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AKA: Physik und Abrüstung

AKA 12: Atomteststopp

AKA 12.1: Talk

Friday, March 26, 2004, 15:00–15:30, HS 118

Source Characterisation and Event Timing based on Xenon Measurements for CTBT Monitoring — •Martin Kalinowski — CTBTO PrepCom, Provisional Technical Secretariat, International Data Center, P.O. Box 1200, A - 1400 Vienna

Xenon activity ratios carry information about the source type and sample age that are relevant for the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). This paper demonstrates that it is not sufficient to analyse the ratio of any two xenon activities to distinguish between reactor releases and nuclear explosions. This is because the ranges of possible ratios from both kinds of sources overlap and do so more and more with increasing age. A new approach is suggested that utilizes two different isotopic activity ratios. It allows for time invariant, i.e. decay independant analysis. The source type and the age of the sample can be determined. This paper compares measured data with simulations of isotopic ratios resulting from different test explosion scenarios as they change with time. Publically available reactor release data as well as release data on historic underground nuclear tests at Nevada are used to validate the new approach. IMS measurements from the International Noble Gas Experiment (INGE) are used to demonstrate the useability of the new approach for sample screening and event timing.