Under the Characterization, Monitoring, and Sensor Technology Crosscutting Program, we have designed and built a K-edge heavy-metal detector that measures the level of heavy-metal content inside closed containers in a nondestructive, non-invasive way. We have applied this technique to measurement of the amount of uranium in stacks of reactor fuel plates containing nuclear materials of different enrichments and alloys. We have obtained good agreement with expected uranium concentrations ranging from 60 mgkm' to 3000 mg/cm', and have demonstrated that the instrument can operate in a high radiation field (>200 mR/hr).

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Joseph N. Gray, not only for sharing his knowledge with me, but also for his friend ship. His support, guidance, and encouragement were invaluable all through the performance of this research. I wish to extend my thanks to Dr. Terrence Jensen for sharing his invaluable expertise in x-ray scattering throughout the past two years. I also wish to thank the rest of my committee members Drs. Alfred Rohach, Lester Schmerr, Danniel Bullen and David Hsu. My parents played a great role in my education. They always have supported me in all my decisions even when they disagreed with me. For that, and for the way they raised me, helped me, supported me, and encouraged me, I wish to give special thanks to them.

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