Passive gamma-ray analysis of UO2 fuel rods using SrI2(Eu) scintillators in multi-detector arrangements

The use of passive gamma analysis (PGA) to interrogate nuclear fuel rods for quality assurance and non-proliferation purposes has been demonstrated to be as efficient and safer than the more common neutron activation analysis (NAA) for fresh fuel assessment. In this work we will build on existing experimental measurements using a single probe SrI
2
(Eu), to simulate the response of a multi-probe SrI
2
(Eu) detector array in the analysis of nuclear fuel rods, containing sintered UO
2
. The work compares the results to literature studies using bismuth germinate and annulus CsI(Tl) multi-probes to evaluate light water reactor fuel rods. The enhanced scintillation performance of SrI
2
(Eu) over CsI(Tl) and BGO make it ideally suited for nuclear fuel inspection.