Self-irradiation damage to the local structure of plutonium and plutonium intermetallics

Journal Article · Thu Mar 07 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4794016· OSTI ID:22102293

Booth, C. H.; Yu, Jiang; Medling, S. A. ^[1]; Wang, D. L. ^[2]; Costello, A. L.; Schwartz, D. S.; Mitchell, J. N.; Tobash, P. H. ^[3]; Bauer, E. D. ^[4]; McCall, S. K.; Wall, M. A.; Allen, P. G. ^[5]

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1. Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
2. Nuclear Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
3. Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
4. Materials Physics and Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
5. Condensed Matter and Materials Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

The effect of self-irradiation damage on the local structure of {delta}-Pu, PuAl{sub 2}, PuGa{sub 3}, and other Pu intermetallics has been determined for samples stored at room temperature using the extended x-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS) technique. These measurements indicate that the intermetallic samples damage at a similar rate as indicated in previous studies of PuCoGa{sub 5}. In contrast, {delta}-Pu data indicate a much slower damage accumulation rate. To explore the effect of storage temperature and possible room temperature annealing effects, we also collected EXAFS data on a {delta}-Pu sample that was held at less than 32 K for a two month period. This sample damaged much more quickly. In addition, the measurable damage was annealed out at above only 135 K. Data from samples of {delta}-Pu with different Ga concentrations and results on all samples collected from different absorption edges are also reported. These results are discussed in terms of the vibrational properties of the materials and the role of Ga in {delta}-Pu as a network former.

• OSTI ID: 22102293
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 113, Issue 9; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABSORPTION
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
ANNEALING
COBALT ALLOYS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DAMAGE
FINE STRUCTURE
GALLIUM ALLOYS
GRAIN SIZE
INDIUM ALLOYS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM ALLOYS
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM ALLOYS
SELF-IRRADIATION
TEMPERATURE RANGE 0273-0400 K
X RADIATION
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY