OVERVIEW OF THE USE OF CDTE DETECTORS FOR THE VERIFICATION OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL IN NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS

CdTe detectors are uniquely suited for international safeguards verification measurements of nuclear material in the field. The paper gives an overview of the use of CdTe detectors for various safeguards verification tasks. Characteristic features of the detection systems primarily developed under Member State Technical Support Programmes to IAEA Safeguards and typical measurement results are described. Presently available planar and hemispherical detectors have a resolution of 1-4% for Cs-137 and can be used to verify items that are difficult to access with larger more bulky detectors. Examples are described covering the verification of spent fuel items stored under water and fresh fuel assemblies in dense storage geometries. Considerable effort was also put into the development of appropriate miniature preamplifiers and pulse processors which are needed to take full advantage of the CdTe detectors. Considerations for future development of CdTe detectors and the associated pulse processing electronics are given that would further enhance the application of these systems for international safeguards and other radiation monitoring tasks.