Detection and analysis of xenon isotopes for the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty international monitoring system

The use of the xenon isotopes for detection of nuclear explosions is of great interest for monitoring compliance with the comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty (CTBT). Recently, the automated radioxenon sampler-analyzer (ARSA) was tested at the Institute for Atmospheric Radioactivity (IAR) in Freiburg, Germany to ascertain its use for the CTBT Ely comparing its results to laboratory-based analyses, determining its detection sensitivity and analyzing its results in light of historical xenon isotope levels and known reactor operations in the area. Xe-133 was detected nearly every day throughout the test at activity concentrations ranging between approximately 0.1 mBq/m(3) to as high as 120mBq/m(3). Xe-133m and Xe-135 were also detected occasionally during the test at concentrations of less than I to a few mBq /m(3). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.