Determination of plutonium mass using gamma-ray spectrometry

Venkataraman, Ramkumar; Croft, Stephen

doi:10.1016/s0168-9002(03)01138-0

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although for the sample with a lesser Pu mass (PuO 2 standard), a linear dependence between the apparent mass and inverse of energy can be seen, it significantly deviates from the linearity for bulkier samples (Mock-up_1 and Mock-up_2). The deviation from linearity can be attributed to the effect of the infinite attenuation conditions at the lower energy γ-rays, making it difficult/impossible to use the conventional methodology based on infinite energy extrapolation of apparent mass (see Section S13, Supporting Information) for such samples. On the contrary, the present methodology can provide a complete isotopic inventory of such highly attenuating samples with reasonable accuracy based on the absolute efficiency calibration.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This would be true for mostly all the samples encountered in nuclear forensics and even sometimes for nuclear waste samples due to the mixing of radioactivity from different sources, widely varying geometries, matrix densities, and inhomogeneous radioactivity distributions within the sample. Venkataraman and Croft, in 2003, have proposed a γray spectrometry-based methodology for the assay of plutonium in a "soup can" without requiring a plutonium standard. 37 The methodology of Venkataraman and Croft was based on an infinite energy extrapolation of apparent mass, which relies on the determination of "apparent mass" of a given radionuclide present in the sample using peak areas for multiple γ-rays without correcting for γ-ray self-attenuation within the sample matrix or the container material and plotting them as a function of the inverse of the γ-ray energy (1/E).…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Venkataraman and Croft, in 2003, have proposed a γray spectrometry-based methodology for the assay of plutonium in a "soup can" without requiring a plutonium standard. 37 The methodology of Venkataraman and Croft was based on an infinite energy extrapolation of apparent mass, which relies on the determination of "apparent mass" of a given radionuclide present in the sample using peak areas for multiple γ-rays without correcting for γ-ray self-attenuation within the sample matrix or the container material and plotting them as a function of the inverse of the γ-ray energy (1/E). This method is referred to as the "apparent mass method" and is widely used for the assay of SNMs in voluminous samples (see the Supporting Information for more discussion on the apparent mass method).…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

In View of “On-Site” Nuclear Forensics and Assay of Fissile Materials in Sealed Packages by High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several incidences of nuclear smuggling during the past few decades have raised the demand for the development of a strong “on-site” nuclear forensic infrastructure. High-resolution γ-ray spectrometry (HRGRS) plays an important role in nuclear forensics. However, the existing methodologies, developed primarily for nuclear fuel cycle applications, are relative and rely on the availability of a standard, limiting their use for the absolute assay of special nuclear materials in nonstandard geometry samples with an unknown matrix, which is vital to make a quick “on-site” decision on the severity, potential radiological threat, and intended use of an interdicted package. In this work, a methodology has been developed using HRGRS for quantifying fissile (235U, 239Pu) and other radioisotopes, which is applicable to sealed packages without requiring the knowledge of the sample geometry and the matrices. By combining experiments and Monte Carlo simulations, an iterative methodology has been proposed for “point” to “extended” source absolute efficiency transformation and demonstrated further for the absolute isotopic assay of uranium and plutonium standards, mock-up nuclear forensic samples, and an unknown nuclear material mixture with a nonstandard geometry, compound matrices, and a wide variation in the elemental and isotopic compositions with a view to imitate an “on-site” experience. The present methodology requires an assay time of only a few minutes to an hour and thus promises “on-site” nuclear forensic analysis of suspected flagged packages at borders and ports using high-resolution γ-ray spectrometry. Furthermore, the present methodology is versatile and can also be adopted for wider applications, beyond nuclear forensics.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

In View of “On-Site” Nuclear Forensics and Assay of Fissile Materials in Sealed Packages by High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The procedure of Venkataraman and Croft [4,5] was used to obtain the apparent mass of the Pu samples (m(E)) at the given energy E using the Eq. :…”

Section: Estimation Of Pu In Solid Samples By Gamma Ray Spectrometrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nondestructive determination of plutonium by gamma spectrometry and neutron well coincidence counting

Agarwal

Poi

Nathaniel

et al. 2009

Journal of Nuclear Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…However, this approach would fail for very heterogeneous sample distribution with the presence of radioisotopes at a few fixed locations, which are also referred to as “hot spots”. This problem can be addressed by the second approach, namely, the “apparent mass method”. − However, this method also cannot be applied for highly attenuating samples and also for radioisotopes that do not have a sufficient number of γ-rays spanning over a wide energy range. We have recently proposed an iterative methodology for absolute efficiency calibration of a coaxial HPGe detector for the assay of plutonium and other γ-emitting radioisotopes in nonstandard geometry voluminous packages with unknown matrix density, where starting with the point source detector efficiency, the extended source absolute efficiency curve for a given sample has been iteratively constructed by varying the sample attenuation …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interrogating a Mixed Actinide Basket Using High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry: A Nuclear Forensic Perspective on Possible Smuggling Scenarios

Patra,

Mani,

Kumar

et al. 2024

Anal. Chem.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The total fissile content in seized nuclear materials is of immense importance and needs to be estimated with reasonable accuracy as a part of nuclear forensics for early decisionmaking in legal proceedings. High-resolution γ-ray spectrometry (HRGRS), because of its nondestructive nature, is a powerful tool for the assay of such samples to reach a quick "on-site" decision on the severity, intended use, and associated radiological threat. If the seized package contains fissile isotopes of more than one actinide in a multicompartmental heterogeneous mixture, analogous to the most likely scenario of a "smuggled mixed actinide basket", its "onsite" quantification can be extremely challenging. This makes up an increasing share of the absolute HRGRS in nuclear forensics and demands for fundamentally new approaches. In the present work, the challenges associated with varying attenuation experienced by γ-rays of different actinides at different subcontainments of the heterogeneous sample matrix have been addressed by an iterative efficiency transfer approach from "point" to "extended" source for individual actinides and demonstrated for the assay of four mock-up samples and a legacy packet, mimicking seized packages containing nuclear materials. An absolute isotopic inventory of the fissile and other radioisotopes has been obtained within <10% along with the assay of total U and Pu within <3% of the expected values with measurement uncertainty <10% for the majority. The present approach has a good potential for "on-site" nuclear forensics in nuclear smuggling scenarios and also can be adapted easily for a wide variety of other applications.

show abstract

Determination of plutonium mass using gamma-ray spectrometry

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

In View of “On-Site” Nuclear Forensics and Assay of Fissile Materials in Sealed Packages by High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry

In View of “On-Site” Nuclear Forensics and Assay of Fissile Materials in Sealed Packages by High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry

Nondestructive determination of plutonium by gamma spectrometry and neutron well coincidence counting

Interrogating a Mixed Actinide Basket Using High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry: A Nuclear Forensic Perspective on Possible Smuggling Scenarios

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About