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Title: Validation of reference materials for uranium radiochronometry in the frame of nuclear forensic investigations

Journal Article · · Applied Radiation and Isotopes
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The results of a joint effort by expert nuclear forensic laboratories in the area of age dating of uranium, i.e. the elapsed time since the last chemical purification of the material are presented and discussed. Completely separated uranium materials of known production date were distributed among the laboratories, and the samples were dated according to routine laboratory procedures by the measurement of the 230Th/234U ratio. The measurement results were in good agreement with the known production date showing that the concept for preparing uranium age dating reference material based on complete separation is valid. Detailed knowledge of the laboratory procedures used for uranium age dating allows the identification of possible improvements in the current protocols and the development of improved practice in the future. Furthermore, the availability of age dating reference materials as well as the evolvement of the age dating best-practice protocol will increase the relevance and applicability of age dating as part of the tool-kit available for nuclear forensic investigations.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396; AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1250916
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1201509; OSTI ID: 1227883; OSTI ID: 1313551
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-14-28168; LLNL-JRNL-701138; S0969804315300245; PII: S0969804315300245
Journal Information:
Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Journal Name: Applied Radiation and Isotopes Vol. 102 Journal Issue: C; ISSN 0969-8043
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 25 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Cited By (4)

IRMM-1000a and IRMM-1000b uranium reference materials certified for the production date. Part I: methodology, preparation and target characteristics journal June 2015
Identification of uranium signatures relevant for nuclear safeguards and forensics journal April 2017
The application of radiochronometry during the 4th collaborative materials exercise of the nuclear forensics international technical working group (ITWG) journal February 2018
Measurement of production date (age) of nanogram amount of uranium journal August 2019

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