Characterization of Pu-bearing materials by non-destructive spectrometric approach: relevance for nuclear forensics
Abu-Zeid, Hosnia;
Abstract
One of the main components that should be in place to control nuclear materials and
their applications is a robust measurement system. The function of this system is not only to
verify the correctness of the information regarding nuclear materials but it must be capable to
characterize the unknown materials as well. The material's chemical and physical attributes
concluded from the characterization process are needed to determine the intended use and
origin of such materials. Thus, the characterization of nuclear materials is a key issue and
equally important in nuclear safeguards (for inventory verification) and in nuclear security (for
forensics attribution). Herein, an absolute spectrometric non-destructive analysis (NDA)
method was used to characterize some plutonium-bearing materials. The gamma-ray spectra
from fifteen samples were obtained using a high purity germanium detector. A portable HPGebased radionuclide (Falcon 5000) with the In-Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS) which is
based on a pre-efficiency calibrated high-resolution gamma-spectrometer in combination with
analysis software was applied. The isotopic composition of the assayed samples was estimated
from the direct measurement of the activities of Pu isotopes as well as Am, Pa, and U isotopes.
The obtained results have shown that the proposed spectrometric method can be successfully
used to characterize Pu-bearing samples for nuclear forensic purposes.
their applications is a robust measurement system. The function of this system is not only to
verify the correctness of the information regarding nuclear materials but it must be capable to
characterize the unknown materials as well. The material's chemical and physical attributes
concluded from the characterization process are needed to determine the intended use and
origin of such materials. Thus, the characterization of nuclear materials is a key issue and
equally important in nuclear safeguards (for inventory verification) and in nuclear security (for
forensics attribution). Herein, an absolute spectrometric non-destructive analysis (NDA)
method was used to characterize some plutonium-bearing materials. The gamma-ray spectra
from fifteen samples were obtained using a high purity germanium detector. A portable HPGebased radionuclide (Falcon 5000) with the In-Situ Object Counting System (ISOCS) which is
based on a pre-efficiency calibrated high-resolution gamma-spectrometer in combination with
analysis software was applied. The isotopic composition of the assayed samples was estimated
from the direct measurement of the activities of Pu isotopes as well as Am, Pa, and U isotopes.
The obtained results have shown that the proposed spectrometric method can be successfully
used to characterize Pu-bearing samples for nuclear forensic purposes.
Other data
Title | Characterization of Pu-bearing materials by non-destructive spectrometric approach: relevance for nuclear forensics | Authors | Abu-Zeid, Hosnia | Keywords | Plutonium;Non-destructive analysis;Nuclear forensics;Gamma spectrometry | Issue Date | 2020 | Journal | Journal of Scientific Research in Science | Volume | 37 | Start page | 61 | End page | 72 |
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