Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques
| Autor: | Khalil J. Spencer, Floyd E. Stanley, Jung H. Rim, Ning Xu, Mariam R. Thomas, Kevin J. Kuhn, Christopher G. Worley, Holly R. Trellue, Elmer Lujan, Katherine Garduno, Lav Tandon, Donivan R. Porterfield |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Physics
Fission Hanford Site Nuclear forensics Nuclear engineering 010401 analytical chemistry Radiochemistry chemistry.chemical_element 010403 inorganic & nuclear chemistry 01 natural sciences 0104 chemical sciences Pathology and Forensic Medicine Plutonium Characterization (materials science) chemistry Elemental analysis Law |
| Zdroj: | Forensic Science International. 273:e1-e9 |
| ISSN: | 0379-0738 |
| Popis: | Nuclear forensics techniques, including micro-XRF, gamma spectrometry, trace elemental analysis and isotopic/chronometric characterization were used to interrogate two, potentially related plutonium metal foils. These samples were submitted for analysis with only limited production information, and a comprehensive suite of forensic analyses were performed. Resulting analytical data was paired with available reactor model and historical information to provide insight into the materials' properties, origins, and likely intended uses. Both were super-grade plutonium, containing less than 3% 240 Pu, and age-dating suggested that most recent chemical purification occurred in 1948 and 1955 for the respective metals. Additional consideration of reactor modeling feedback and trace elemental observables indicate plausible U.S. reactor origin associated with the Hanford site production efforts. Based on this investigation, the most likely intended use for these plutonium foils was 239 Pu fission foil targets for physics experiments, such as cross-section measurements, etc. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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