Characterization of sealed radioactive sources: uncertainty analysis to improve detection methods

Cummings, D. G.; Sommers, J.; Adamic, Mary; Jiménez, M.; Giglio, Jeffrey J.; Carney, Kevin; Grimm, K.N.

doi:10.1007/s10967-009-0368-0

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This model purification date falls more than one year before the encapsulation date of October 27, 1965 that represents the latest possible time of purification. The model date is also in agreement with previous independent determinations of the model purification date for this source [11, 23].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Green triangle symbols represent 137 Ba* ORNL verification measurements. A mean value for model purification dates of previous analyses of the same source [11, 23] is also shown (orange diamond). The horizontal single solid line represents the model age derived from the recommended values for the molalities of 137 Cs and 137 Ba* and the dashed lines represent the envelope of the expanded uncertainty.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A reference material for evaluation of 137Cs radiochronometric measurements

Lavelle

Essex

Carney

et al. 2018

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A new nuclear forensic reference material has been characterized as a standard for radiochronometric determination of the model purification date for 137Cs sources. The purification date of a radioactive source is a potentially diagnostic nuclear forensic signature for determining the provenance of a radioactive material. Reference values have been measured for the attributes needed to use the 137Cs/137Ba chronometer: the molality (reported here as nmol g−1) of 137Cs and of the radiogenic portion of 137Ba in the material (hereafter referred to as 137Ba*). All measurement results were decay-corrected to represent the composition of the material on the reference date of July 7, 2011. The molality of 137Cs is (0.7915 ± 0.0073) nmol g−1; this value was calculated from the massic activity of 137Cs, (348.4 ± 3.0) kBq g−1, as measured in the NIST 4π-γ secondary standard ionization chamber (previously calibrated by 4π-(e+x)-γ-coincidence efficiency extrapolation counting) and the evaluated half-life of 137Cs, (30.05 ± 0.08) years. The molality of 137Ba*, (1.546 ± 0.024) nmol g−1, was measured by isotope dilution mass spectrometry using the measured relative proportion of 138Ba in the material to apply a correction for the 137Ba contribution from natural Ba. A model age of (47.04 ± 0.56) years, corresponding to a model purification date of June 22, 1964 with an expanded uncertainty of 200 days is calculated from the reference material values. This age is consistent with the date engraved on the capsule that contained the 137Cs starting material and with a prior independent determination of the model purification date. A full discussion of the uncertainties of the reference material values is included.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reference material for evaluation of 137Cs radiochronometric measurements

Lavelle

Essex

Carney

et al. 2018

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We tested several mass-bias-correction models, 14,15 including linear, power, and exponential formulas. The best results were obtained with the so-called Russell equation, 22 shown in eqn (5).…”

Section: Data Handling For Icp-ms Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Aer considering the magnitudes of uncertainty components in the process, 5 INL recognized that variations in the recovery of strontium and zirconium through the separation process were major components of the overall uncertainty in the method, with ICP-MS measurements of the 90 Sr and 90 Zr concentrations in solution also contributing substantially.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of mass spectrometric isotope dilution methodology for 90Sr age-dating with measurements by thermal-ionization and inductively coupled-plasma mass spectrometry

Steeb

Graczyk

Tsai

et al. 2013

J. Anal. At. Spectrom.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The age of 137 Cs sources was estimated by the determination of 137 Cs and the stable daughter ( 137 Ba) using ICP-MS after separation on Srresin (Eichrom Industries, Darrien, Il, USA). 201,202 This included a detailed error analysis and the associated uncertainty attached to the age determination. Consideration of this error analysis suggested potential areas of improvement in the analytical process including the application of isotope dilution techniques for quantification.…”

Section: Nuclear Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%