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Unexpected 13N concentrations in ISIS synchrotron room air

The specific activity of air in the large open room housing the 800-MeV proton synchrotron of the ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source has been measured. Air from several positions within the ISIS synchrotron room was sucked through a long flexible tube, and run past a shielded HPGe gamma-ray det...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied radiation and isotopes 2022-04, Vol.182, p.110139-110139, Article 110139
Main Authors: Jones, B., Burns, G.J., Cavanagh, H.V., Findlay, D.J.S., Karbassi, S., Nilsson, N.A., Škoro, G.P., Wright, P.N.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:The specific activity of air in the large open room housing the 800-MeV proton synchrotron of the ISIS Spallation Neutron and Muon Source has been measured. Air from several positions within the ISIS synchrotron room was sucked through a long flexible tube, and run past a shielded HPGe gamma-ray detector outside the synchrotron room. In spite of an expectation that 13N should be the largest component of the overall activity in the air, the results of the measurements are consistent with the presence in the air of 11C and 41Ar only, and suggest that the activity in the air is mostly created not in the synchrotron room itself but in the massive shielding monoliths around the neutron-producing targets, monoliths through which ventilation air is drawn into the synchrotron room. Typical specific activities of 11C and 41Ar in the air in the synchrotron room are ∼0.10 and ∼0.03 Bq cm–3 respectively, the upper limit for 13N being at most ∼0.01 Bq cm–3. •Measurement of activity of air in ∼200-kW 800-MeV proton synchrotron room.•Air drawn past remote shielded HPGe gamma-ray detector.•Measurement programme spanned 2 years.•Unexpectedly low concentrations of 13N found.
ISSN:0969-8043
1872-9800
DOI:10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110139