Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

Joseph L Gonzalez

John G Seidel

Thomas V Congedo

Frank H Ruddy

Edward Jean Lahoda

David C Grant

John Bartko

David F McLaughlin

Patrick E Felice

A system for determining depth profiles of concentrations of hazardous elements in soils comprises a neutron source for generating neutrons of a first energy level and irradiating a volume of soil with the neutrons. Nuclear reactions are effected within the soil and gamma radiation is emitted from the soil. The system also includes an array of gamma detectors for detecting gamma radiation emitted from the soil; source electronics for controlling the width of regularly repeated pulses of neutrons generated by the neutron source; detector electronics associated with the gamma detectors for amplifying and digitalizing signals generated by the gamma detectors and storing data representing the digitalized signals; spectral analysis software for analyzing the data and determining the concentrations of selected target elements in the soil; and an acquisition interface module (AIM). The AIM controls the timing of the source and detector electronics such that the neutron source generates neutrons in regularly repeated bursts of a prescribed pulse width and the detectors and detector electronics detect gamma rays during a plurality of time intervals associated with the burst and acquire groups of data. Each group is indicative of a number of gamma rays emitted and their energy levels during a corresponding time interval. The system also includes a mobile platform carrying the neutron source, array of gamma ray detectors and software for determining a depth profile of a target element. Trace elements can also be detected with the disclosed system.

Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis system

A method for determining the depth of a gamma emitting element beneath the surface of a volume of soil is disclosed. The disclosed method includes the steps of detecting gamma rays at a first height h.sub.1 above the surface; detecting gamma rays at a second height h.sub.2 above the surface; determining a ratio R representative of the ratio of the number of gamma rays detected at h.sub.2 to the number of gamma rays detected at h.sub.1, or vice versa; and inferring, on the basis of the ratio R, an estimate of the depth of the gamma emitting element beneath the surface.

Method and apparatus for determining the depth of a gamma emitting

An improved thermoluminescent dosimeter system and apparatus for sensing alpha particle emission. A thermoluminescent body is sealed between a pair of metallized plastic films. The dosimeter is mounted within a protective inverted cup or a tube closed at one end, which is disposed in a test hole for exposure to radioactive radon gas which is indicative of uranium deposits.

Thermoluminescent dosimeter system

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White Oak Boro, PA, United States of America

Joseph L Gonzalez