ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS OF RADIOXENON

摘要

Radioactive xenon (radioxenon) is produced by the fissioning of nuclear material, eithervia neutron-induced or spontaneous fission, and also via neutron activation or othernuclear reactions involving xenon gas. The most abundant radioactive xenon isotopes inthe atmosphere are 1311nXe, 133Xe and 135Xe, having been measured at several locations inthe northern hemisphere associated with reactor operation, medical isotope production,and associated with the spontaneous fission of 240Pu from the legacy materials atplutonium production facility in Hanford, Washington. Radioactive xenon measurement atlevels near the average atmospheric level (1-10 mBq/m3) is a "specialty" measurement,requiring specialized collection, separation, and nuclear measurement techniquesprimarily because of its low concentration and interference with Rn isotopes. This paperdescribes the reasons for making radioxenon measurements, background sources, andcurrent techniques for these measurements.