The Simulation of In-Situ Groundwater Detector Response as a Means of Identifying Beta Emitting Radionuclides by Linear Regression Analysis

The in-situ characterisation of strontium-90 contamination groundwater at nuclear decommissioning sites would represent a novel and cost-saving technology for the industry. However, beta particles are emitted over continuous spectrum it is difficult identify radionuclides due to overlap their spectra lack characteristic features. This can be resolved by using predictive modelling perform maximum-likelihood estimation present in obtained with semiconductor detector. achieved linear least squares regression relating experimental data simulated detector response data. In this case, simulating borehole scenario deployment cadmium telluride within it, demonstrated that possible presence 90Sr, 90Y, 137Cs 235U decay. It determined optimal thickness CdTe technique range 0.1 1 mm. influence suspended solids also investigated. average maximum concentrations found Sellafield do not significantly deteriorate results. applying two energy windows improves estimate 90Sr activity mixed source. These results provide validation ability detectors determine timely cost-effective manner.