CdTe Gamma Spectrometers for Nondestructive Analysis of Nuclear Fuels

Gamma-ray spectrometry is widely used for identification and assay of nuclear fuel and scrap materials. CdTe detectors are especially promising for use by nuclear safeguards inspectors because of their small physical size and good energy resolution. A 20 mm3 CdTe detector has been used to determine the isotopic composition of uranium and plutonium samples. The energy resolution is superior to that of NaI so that the major lines of Pu-239 are more easily distinguished from interfering lines of Pu-241 and Am-241.