• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.11b
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• pp.583-589
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• 1996

원자력발전소에서 발생되는 방사성폐기물들은 폐기물형태 및 방사능 농도가 다양하며 영구처분장으로 이송전까지는 발전소내의 임시 저장고에 안전하게 보관, 관리하고 있다. 생성된 폐기물드럼내에는 감마방출핵종을 비롯하여 알파 및 베타방출 핵종들이 균질 또는 비균질하게 존재하고 있으며 방사능의 세기나 폐기물의 특성에 따라 안정화시키거나 압축처리하여 드럼에 담겨져 있기 때문에 일반적인 파괴분석에 의한 화학분석법으로는 작업자의 피폭, 시료의 대표성 선정 및 장시간의 화학처리 시간소요 등으로 핵종분석이 곤란하다. 따라서 본 논문은 일반적으로 감마핵종분석시 흔히 사용하고 있는 고순도게르마늄(HPGe) 검출기를 이용하여 드럼의 감마핵종농도를 분석하는 방법과 장치의 개발에 대해 언급하였으며 알파나 베타핵종과 같이 직접 분석이 곤란한 핵종들은 각 폐기물드럼내에 존재하는 Co-60이나 Cs-137과의 상관관계를 미리 예측한 척도인자 (scaling factor)를 이용하여 간접적으로 구하는 방법을 사용하고 있으나 본 논문에서는 드럼으로부터 감마핵종만을 분석하는 방법에 대해서만 언급하였다. 또한 핵종분석시스템의 최적 운전조건을 도출하기 위해 드럼회전테이블의 속도결정 및 모의드럼을 이용한 방사능측정 등을 통해 핵종 농도 분석시의 오차를 30% 이내로 유지할 수 있었다.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.321-328
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• 2019

The detection performances of the NaI(Tl), $LaBr_3$(Ce) and $CeBr_3$ scintillation detectors, which can be used to rapidly evaluate the major artificial radionuclides deposited on the soil surface in a nuclear accident or radiological emergency, were compared. Detection performance was assessed by calculating the minimum detectable activity (MDA). The detection efficiency of each detector for artificial radionuclides was semi-empirically determined using mathematical modelling and point-like sources having certified radioactivity. The background gamma-ray energy spectrum for MDA evaluation was obtained from relatively wide and flat grassland, and the MDA values of each detector for the major artificial radionuclides that could be released in nuclear accidents were calculated. As a result, the relative MDA values of each detector regarding surface deposition distribution at normal environmental radiation level were evaluated as high in the order of the NaI(Tl), $LaBr_3$(Ce), and $CeBr_3$ detectors. These results were compared based on each detector's intrinsic and measurement environment background, detection efficiency, and energy resolution for the gamma-ray energy region of the radionuclide of interest.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2018

The measurement of gamma-ray spectrum of $^{nat}W(p,xn)$ reaction with natural tungsten were performed by using a high energy proton generated from a 100-MeV proton linear accelerator of the Korea Multi-purpose Accelerator Complex (KOMAC). Gamma rays generated by various nuclides generated through the nuclide were measured using a gamma-ray spectroscopy system composed of HPGe detector. A gamma-ray standard source was used for energy calibration and efficiency measurement of the detector. Analysis of the gamma rays observed in the measured spectra showed that the radionuclides produced were $^{167}Re$, $^{178}Re$, $^{179}Re$, $^{180}Re$, $^{181}Re$, $^{182}Re$, $^{184}Re$, $^{172}Ta$, $^{174}Ta$, $^{178}Ta$, $^{182}Ta$, $^{184}Ta$, $^{175}W$, $^{176}W$, $^{177}W$ and $^{179}W$. Nuclides were generated. The results of this study will be applied to nuclear fusion, astrophysics, and nuclear medicine applications in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.819-824
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• 2019

In this study, we proposed a method for identifying isotopes generated from high-energy proton $^{nat}Pb$(p,xn) nuclear reactions through the difference of gamma rays generated through nuclear reactions using different proton energies. The experiment was performed by using a high energy proton generated from a 100 MeV proton linear accelerator of the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Gamma rays generated by various nuclides generated through proton nuclear reactions were measured using a gamma-ray spectroscopy system composed of HPGe detectors. Gamma-ray standard sources were used for accurate energy calibration and efficiency measurements of HPGe gamma-ray detectors. For the proposed method, 100 and 60 MeV proton energy beams were used for the same natural lead samples. This method was found to be very effective in identifying nuclides produced by comparing gamma rays generated from the same sample with each other. The results of this study are expected to be very effective in obtaining other proton nuclear reaction results in the future.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.170-175
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• 2009

For the emergency radiation monitoring using gamma spectrometry, we should sufficiently survey the background spectra as environmental samples with systematic nuclide identification method. In this study, we obtained the gamma ray energy spectrum using a HPGe gamma spectrometry system from an air sample. And we identified nuclide of the gamma ray energy peaks in the spectrum using two methods -1) Half life calculation and 2) survey for cascade coincidence summing peaks using nuclear data. As the results, we produced the nuclide identification results for the air sample.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.190-194
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• 2009

Gamma spectral results for macroalgae samples taken from the environment of Ulchin nuclear power plants in Korea (east coast), showed 766 keV peaks, which were identified as $^{95}Nb$ by several research institutes. After the enhancement of liquid radioactive waste disposal facility at Ulchin NPP site, the $^{95}Nb$ amount in the liquid radioactive waste outflow has drastically reduced, but the expected reduction in $^{95}Nb$ specific activity from environmental samples did not actually show up on gamma spectroscopy. Detailed re-investigation revealed that along with 766 keV peak, other peaks (63, 92 and 1001 keV) from $^{234}Th-^{234}mPa$ decay series were also detected on spectroscopy, and that the measured half lives of the four peaks were very close to known half life of $^{234}Th-^{234}mPa$ decay series, which is 24.1 day. The measured gamma yield ratios of 766 keV peak to 1001 peak were very close to known ratio 0.35 for $^{234}mPa$. It is concluded that 766 keV peaks on gamma spectroscopy of Ulchin NPP environmental samples were mainly from $^{234}mPa$, which is one of naturally occurring radionuclides.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2006

In the measurement of gamma rays emitted from the nuclide in the radioactive waste drum, to analyze the nuclide concentration accurately, it is necessary to use the proper calibration standards and to correct for the attenuation of the gamma rays. Two drums having a different density were used to analyze the nuclide concentration inside the drum in this study. After carrying out the system calibration, we measured the gamma rays emitted from the standard source inside the model drum with changing the distance between the drum and the detector. The measured values were corrected with the three kinds of gamma attenuation correction methode, as a results, the error was less than 10 % in the low density drum and less than 25 % in the high density drum. The measured activity in the short distance was more accruable than in the long distance. The transmission correction for the mass attenuation showed good results(very Low error) compared to the mean density and the differential peak correction method.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.212-220
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• 2001

This study was performed to establish the analytical method of radium and radon in various environmental samples with the ${\gamma}$-ray spectrometry. The major problem in the measurements of low level ${\gamma}$-ray, such as environmental radioactivity, is the fluctuation of ${\gamma}$-ray background spectrum. To overcome this problem, a nitrogen gas was filled up in the detector chamber to reduce the background counts due to airborne radioactivities, i.e., $^{214}Pb$ and $^{214}Bi$, the daughters of $^{222}Rn$ in air. When nitrogen gas flowed around the detector, peak counts of ${\gamma}$-rays from the daughters of $^{222}Rn$ decreased about 80% below 1 MeV and about 20~50% above 1 MeV. The use of nitrogen purging results in approximately tenfold increment of sensitivity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.282-288
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• 2015

A monte carlo simulation about shielding material and thickness of the syringe shield for radiation shield was performed. As a result of analysis, high atomic number materials such as tungsten, lead and bismuth have the highest shielding effect. However, $^{18}F$, $^{67}Ga$ and $^{111}In$ show high energy distribution in the region with thin shielding thickness. As the thickness of shielding materials increased, the energy distribution decreased due to reduction of ${\gamma}$-ray. In the case of low atomic number materials, they, showed energy distribution from highest to lowest, were barium sulfate, steel, stainless, iron and copper. Aluminum, plastic, concrete and water showed diverse aspect. they showed relatively high energy distribution because of increased ${\gamma}$-ray that penetrate the shield.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.414-420
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• 2011

In this study, radiation measurement system has been investigated to set up for the radioisotopes analysis in the radioactive waste samples after selecting the radiation counters of alpha beta and gamma nuclides. The counting efficiencies for alpha, beta and gamma measurement systems were calibrated. To obtain stability of the radiation detectors, quality control program has been established. Also, minimum detectable activities (MDAs) depending on the type of samples were calculated for increasing the confidence level for analytical result.