• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2024

Background: This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of quasi-hemispherical Cd_0.9Zn_0.1Te (CZT) detector for gamma-ray spectroscopy applications, aiming to contribute to advancements in radiation measurement and research. Materials and Methods: A CZT ingot was grown using the vertical Bridgman technique, followed by proper fabrication processes including wafering, polishing, chemical etching, electrode deposition, and passivation. Response properties were evaluated under various external bias voltages using gamma-ray sources such as Co-57, Ba-133, and Cs-137. Results and Discussion: The fabricated quasi-hemispherical CZT detector demonstrated sufficient response properties across a wide range of gamma-ray energies, with sufficient energy resolution and peak distinguishability. Higher external bias voltages led to improved performance in terms of energy resolution and peak shape. However, further improvements in defect properties are necessary to enhance detector performance under low bias conditions. Conclusion: This study underscores the efficacy of quasi-hemispherical CZT detector for gamma-ray spectroscopy, providing valuable insights for enhancing their capabilities in radiation research field.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.1358-1367
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• 2017

The data integration with modeled predictions (DIMP) model is a promising inverse radiation transport method for solving the special nuclear material (SNM) holdup problem. Unlike previous methods, DIMP is a completely passive nondestructive assay technique that requires no initial assumptions regarding the source distribution or active measurement time. DIMP predicts the most probable source location and distribution through Bayesian inference and quasi-Newtonian optimization of predicted detector responses (using the adjoint transport solution) with measured responses. DIMP performs well with forward hemispherical collimation and unshielded measurements, but several considerations are required when using narrow-view collimated detectors. DIMP converged well to the correct source distribution as the number of synthetic responses increased. DIMP also performed well for the first experimental validation exercise after applying a collimation factor, and sufficiently reducing the source search volume's extent to prevent the optimizer from getting stuck in local minima. DIMP's simple point detector response function (DRF) is being improved to address coplanar false positive/negative responses, and an angular DRF is being considered for integration with the next version of DIMP to account for highly collimated responses. Overall, DIMP shows promise for solving the SNM holdup inverse problem, especially once an improved optimization algorithm is implemented.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.4620-4624
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• 2022

Several cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) crystals were fabricated into radiation detectors using methods that included slicing, dicing, lapping, polishing, and chemical etching. A wet passivation with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) was then carried out on the Br-etched detectors. The Te-rich layer on the CZT surface was successfully compensated to the Te oxide layer, which was analyzed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data of both a Br-etched crystal and a passivated CZT crystals. We confirmed that passivation with NaOCl improved the transport property by analyzing the mobility-lifetime product and surface recombination velocity. The electrical and spectroscopic properties of large volume detectors were compared before and after passivation, and then the detectors were observed for a month. Both bar and quasi-hemispherical detectors show an enhancement in performance after passivation. Thus, we could identify the effect of NaOCl passivation on large volume CZT detectors.