Timepix3 detector network for nuclear waste monitoring

¹ Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
² Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic
³ Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, United Kingdom
⁴ Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University hospital Freiburg, Germany

Bartolomej.Biskup@utef.cvut.cz

Published online: 19 November 2021

Abstract

In the framework of the MICADO project we proposed an active long-term nuclear waste monitoring system based on Timepix3 technology. Particle detectors based on Timepix3 are capable of particle type discrimination and provide spectrometric information in combination with precise timing information. To maximize the versatility of the setup, the Timepix3 detectors employed are equipped with a range of different sensors. To enable measurement of neutrons, two quadrants of the detectors are covered by neutron converters, allowing detection of thermal neutron by capture in ⁶Li, as well as detection of fast neutrons through recoil protons generated in a polyethylene converter. Within this project a new housing for the detector unit and the readout was developed, with the network currently comprising of 9 such detectors. A specifically developed in-house software handles simultaneous operation of all devices, cluster analysis and data visualization. Energy calibration was performed using an X-ray tube with several fluorescence foils as well as photons from an ²⁴¹Am source. The neutron and gamma/X-ray detection efficiency calibration was carried out at the Czech Metrology Institute and the results are presented here. Tests on simultaneous operation of all 9 devices were performed using uraninite and ²⁴¹Am sources.