Measurements of Isotopic Mass Content in Uranium Samples Using Non-Destructive Techniques

Abstract

In this work, the absolute, passive, non-destructive assay method to verify the 238U and 235U isotopic mass contents in non-uniform depleted uranium samples were used. A high-resolution germanium gamma-ray (HPGe) spectrometry was used in combination with the General Monte Carlo transport code to estimate the total uranium mass Ur and isotopic mass contents of 238U and 235U in the samples. Count rates due to uranium isotopes were measured using the HPGe detector, while Monte Carlo calculations were performed to estimate the absolute full energy peak efficiency. The obtained absolute results were compared with those obtained using the relative method, Multi-Group Analyses for uranium (MGAU). The results obtained from the Mote Carlo calculations were in good agreement with those estimated by MGAU method with average accuracy of 2% and 2.3% for masses content of 238U and 235U respectively. The proposed technique could be applied for the purposes of safeguards for the verification and characterization of nuclear materials.