title: Radioxenon detections in the CTBT international monitoring system likely related to the announced nuclear test in North Korea on February 12, 2013.
abstract: Observations made in April 2013 of the radioxenon isotopes (133)Xe and (131m)Xe at measurement stations in Japan and Russia, belonging to the International Monitoring System for verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, are unique with respect to the measurement history of these stations. Comparison of measured data with calculated isotopic ratios as well as analysis using atmospheric transport modeling indicate that it is likely that the xenon measured was created in the underground nuclear test conducted by North Korea on February 12, 2013, and released 7-8 weeks later. More than one release is required to explain all observations. The (131m)Xe source terms for each release were calculated to 0.7 TBq, corresponding to about 1-10% of the total xenon inventory for a 10 kt explosion, depending on fractionation and release scenario. The observed ratios could not be used to obtain any information regarding the fissile material that was used in the test.
authors: Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Gulfossgatan 12, SE-164 90 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: anders.ringbom@foi.se.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ringbom
authors: Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Gulfossgatan 12, SE-164 90 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Axelsson
authors: Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Gulfossgatan 12, SE-164 90 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Aldener
authors: Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Provisional Technical Secretariat, P.O. Box 1200, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Auer
authors: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), P.O. Box 999, Richland, WA 99352, USA.
authors: T W
authors: TW
authors: Bowyer
authors: Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), Gulfossgatan 12, SE-164 90 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Fritioff
authors: Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 755 Brookfield Rd., A.L. 6302D1, Ottawa, ON K1A 1C1, Canada.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Hoffman
authors: Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Provisional Technical Secretariat, P.O. Box 1200, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Khrustalev
authors: Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, Provisional Technical Secretariat, P.O. Box 1200, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nikkinen
authors: Lares Ltd, Russia.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Popov
authors: Lares Ltd, Russia.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Popov
authors: Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada, 755 Brookfield Rd., A.L. 6302D1, Ottawa, ON K1A 1C1, Canada.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Ungar
authors: Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Wotawa
mesh_terms: D056911:Democratic People's Republic of Korea; D007564:Japan; D054043:Nuclear Weapons; D011834:Radiation Monitoring; D012426:Russia; D014978:Xenon / Q000032:analysis*; D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014980:Xenon Radioisotopes; D014978:Xenon
keywords: CTBT; IMS; North Korea nuclear test; Radioxenon