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Title: Nuclear forensics of a non-traditional sample: Neptunium

Abstract

Recent nuclear forensics cases have focused primarily on plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) materials. By definition however, nuclear forensics can apply to any diverted nuclear material. This includes neptunium (Np), an internationally safeguarded material like Pu and U, that could offer a nuclear security concern if significant quantities were found outside of regulatory control. This case study couples scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with quantitative analysis using newly developed specialized software, to evaluate a non-traditional nuclear forensic sample of Np. Here, the results of the morphological analyses were compared with another Np sample of known pedigree, as well as other traditional actinide materials in order to determine potential processing and point-of-origin.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1255279
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-16-21702
Journal ID: ISSN 2059-8521; TRN: US1601735
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
MRS Advances
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: MRS Advances; Journal ID: ISSN 2059-8521
Publisher:
Materials Research Society (MRS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION; scanning electron microscopy; neptunium; morphology; nuclear forensics

Citation Formats

Doyle, Jamie L., Schwartz, Daniel, and Tandon, Lav. Nuclear forensics of a non-traditional sample: Neptunium. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1557/adv.2016.353.
Doyle, Jamie L., Schwartz, Daniel, & Tandon, Lav. Nuclear forensics of a non-traditional sample: Neptunium. United States. https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2016.353
Doyle, Jamie L., Schwartz, Daniel, and Tandon, Lav. 2016. "Nuclear forensics of a non-traditional sample: Neptunium". United States. https://doi.org/10.1557/adv.2016.353. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1255279.
@article{osti_1255279,
title = {Nuclear forensics of a non-traditional sample: Neptunium},
author = {Doyle, Jamie L. and Schwartz, Daniel and Tandon, Lav},
abstractNote = {Recent nuclear forensics cases have focused primarily on plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) materials. By definition however, nuclear forensics can apply to any diverted nuclear material. This includes neptunium (Np), an internationally safeguarded material like Pu and U, that could offer a nuclear security concern if significant quantities were found outside of regulatory control. This case study couples scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with quantitative analysis using newly developed specialized software, to evaluate a non-traditional nuclear forensic sample of Np. Here, the results of the morphological analyses were compared with another Np sample of known pedigree, as well as other traditional actinide materials in order to determine potential processing and point-of-origin.},
doi = {10.1557/adv.2016.353},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1255279}, journal = {MRS Advances},
issn = {2059-8521},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Mon May 16 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}