Reaction Gammas for Analysis of Impurities in Alpha Emitters

McKibben, J.M.

doi:10.13182/nt68-a26323

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Giles and Peisach's compilation includes the relative sensitivities for detecting the various elements. In contrast to the findings of McKibben (1968) and Martin (1975), Giles and Peisach (1979) found prompt gamma rays from silicon. In agreement with the previous studies, they found no signal for carbon or sulfur.…”

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Martin (1975) obtained spectra up to about 5 MeV of PuO 2 with the same 14 light elements as did McKibben (1968). Martin (1975), sometimes using different compounds (generally pulverized to pass 100-mesh) than McKibben (1968), used a high-resolution Ge(Li) semiconductor detector and used 239 Pu oxide (with 133 ppm 241 Am; isotopic composition otherwise not stated) instead of the more active 238 Pu oxide used by McKibben (1968). In addition to the spectra from the dry-blended materials, Martin obtained spectra of plutonium compounds [PuF 4 , Cs 2 PuCl 6 , Pu(HCO 2 ) 3 , and an Al-Pu alloy] from a "molten salt waste" from RFP operations.…”

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Gamma ray spectrometry of prompt gamma-rays from α-particle reactions was applied first to identify light element impurities in 238 PuO 2 (McKibben 1968). The basis for this qualitative analysis was the interpretation of gamma ray spectra, observed up to about 6 MeV, of dry mixtures of 238 PuO 2 with various light element compounds.…”

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The spectra McKibben (1968) gathered using a NaI(Tl) detector were of lower resolution than would become available subsequently by using semiconductor detectors. Martin (1975) obtained spectra up to about 5 MeV of PuO 2 with the same 14 light elements as did McKibben (1968). Martin (1975), sometimes using different compounds (generally pulverized to pass 100-mesh) than McKibben (1968), used a high-resolution Ge(Li) semiconductor detector and used 239 Pu oxide (with 133 ppm 241 Am; isotopic composition otherwise not stated) instead of the more active 238 Pu oxide used by McKibben (1968).…”

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Application of Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis to Identify Electrorefining Salt-Bearing Plutonium Oxide at the Plutonium Finishing Plant

Fazzari

Jones

Delegard³

2003

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A large fraction of impure plutonium oxide inventory items received in the mid-1980s from the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP) contain sodium chloride and potassium chloride salts from the electrorefining process. Sodium and potassium chloride evaporate at the ≥950°C stabilization temperature mandated for long-term storage under the U.S. Department of Energy plutonium oxide stabilization and storage criteria to plug and corrode process equipment. Because of the equipment damage and associated increased processing time and operator radiation exposure caused by these salts, items found to have these salts qualify for thermal stabilization at 750°C. The present document describes how prompt gamma-ray analysis is being implemented at the Plutonium Finishing Plant (PFP) to screen the items from the RFP for the presence of electrorefining salt. The prompt gamma ray energies characteristic of sodium, potassium, chlorine, and other low atomic weight elements arise from the interaction the light elements with alpha radiation from plutonium and americium radioactive decay. High-resolution gamma ray spectrometers designed to detect energies up to ~4.5 MeV are used to gather the high-energy prompt gamma spectra. Observation of the presence of the high-energy gamma peaks representing the natural chlorine-35, sodium-23, and potassium-39 isotopes and the sodium-to-chlorine peak area ratios in the range for plutonium oxide materials known to contain the electrorefining salts give the evidence needed to identify plutonium oxide materials at the PFP that qualify for the lowertemperature processing. Conversely, the absence of these telltale signals in the prompt gamma analysis provides evidence that the materials do not contain the electrorefining salts. Furthermore, based on calibrations using known assayed items, semiquantitative measurement of the quantity of chlorine present in materials containing electrorefining salt also can be performed by using the count rates observed for the chlorine peak, the plutonium quantity present in the measured item, and the plutonium-and chlorine-specific response of the gamma detection system. The origin and characteristics of the impure plutonium oxide, the process impacts of the electrorefining salts, and the background and technical bases of application of prompt gammaray analysis to identify electrorefining salt-bearing plutonium oxide at the PFP are described. v

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Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spectra Observed By Pgamentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Application of Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis to Identify Electrorefining Salt-Bearing Plutonium Oxide at the Plutonium Finishing Plant

Fazzari

Jones

Delegard³

2003

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show abstract

“…Prompt gamma (PG) analysis is a nondestructive nuclear technique, which has been used as part of the Integrated Surveillance Program (ISP) to determine the impurities present in plutonium oxide materials for the past five years. As shown by previous research, PG analysis can be used to detect certain impurities in 238 PuO 2 and 239 PuO 2 through the characteristic gamma rays emitted from (α,nγ) and (α,pγ) reactions [5,6]. Of the impurities commonly found in plutonium oxide, the impurities detectable by PG analysis include Al, Be, Cl, F, Mg, P, K, and Na; PG rays from the following reactions are observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

A Calibration to Predict Concentrations of Impurities in Plutonium Oxide by Prompt Gamma Analysis

Narlesky¹,

Kelly²,

Foster³

2005

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Neutron spectrum and yield of accompanying photon radiation of lithium neutron sources

Vlaskin¹,

Chvankin²

1993

At Energy

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Reaction Gammas for Analysis of Impurities in Alpha Emitters

Cited by 8 publications

References 1 publication

Application of Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis to Identify Electrorefining Salt-Bearing Plutonium Oxide at the Plutonium Finishing Plant

Application of Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis to Identify Electrorefining Salt-Bearing Plutonium Oxide at the Plutonium Finishing Plant

A Calibration to Predict Concentrations of Impurities in Plutonium Oxide by Prompt Gamma Analysis

Neutron spectrum and yield of accompanying photon radiation of lithium neutron sources

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