Applications of ultra-high resolution microcalorimeter gamma-ray spectrometry

Schreiber, Katherine Anna; Koehler, Katrina Elizabeth; Croce, Mark Philip; Stark, Emily Nicole; McNeel, Daniel George; Carpenter, Matthew Hollis; Mercer, David James; Abel, E. Paige; Archambault, Brian C.; Arrigo, Leah M.; Batie, Grey; Becker, Daniel T.; Bennett, Douglas A.; Bucher, Brian M.; Dede, Stefania; Fowler, Joseph W.; Gard, Johnathon D.; Glasgow, David C.; Goetz, K. Callie; Gray, Craig; Harabagiu, Catalin A.; Hu, Jianwei; Keller, Mark W.; Mates, J. A. Ben; Mathew, Christine Elizabeth; O’Neil, Galen C.; Ortiz, Nathan J.; Pagani, Luca; Pierson, Bruce D.; Schmidt, Daniel R.; Schoenemann, Rico Uwe; Seabury, Edward; Swetz, Daniel S.; Ullom, Joel N.; Weidenbenner, Sophie L.; Williams, Ammon N.

doi:10.3389/fnuen.2025.1654123

Applications of ultra-high resolution microcalorimeter gamma-ray spectrometry

Journal Article · Thu Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnuen.2025.1654123· OSTI ID:2997708

^[1]; ^[2]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; Abel, E. Paige ^[3]; ^[4]; Arrigo, Leah M. ^[4]; Batie, Grey ^[4]; Becker, Daniel T. ^[5]; Bennett, Douglas A. ^[6]; Bucher, Brian M. ^[3]; ^[1]; Fowler, Joseph W. ^[6]; Gard, Johnathon D. ^[5]; Glasgow, David C. ^[7]; Goetz, K. Callie ^[7]; Gray, Craig ^[7] more »

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Houghton Univ., NY (United States)
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)

Ultra-high energy resolution microcalorimeter gamma-ray spectroscopy—with energy resolution 5 to 10 times better than observed in spectra obtained by commercial-off-the-shelf high purity germanium detectors—is an enabling technology for ultra-precise isotope identification and quantification. Microcalorimeter gamma spectroscopy complements measurements requiring high-accuracy mass spectrometry, a costly, destructive analysis technique, and may offer benefits over mass spectrometry in the future. Microcalorimeter detectors are fabricated from superconducting materials and operate at ultra-low temperatures ($<$0.1 K), properties which permit measurement of spectra with peak full width half maximum (FWHM) of less than 100 eV at 100 keV. The microcalorimeter collaboration between Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado, Boulder has deployed three microcalorimeter gamma-ray spectrometers to nuclear facilities and analytical laboratories so far. These are the Spectrometer Optimized for Facility Integrated Applications (SOFIA), a portable system that can be moved to any facility, and two instruments called the High Efficiency and Resolution Microcalorimeter Spectrometers (HERMES) intended for permanent installation at Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Each spectrometer was customized to satisfy requirements for their specific applications. This work describes samples examined by microcalorimeter gamma-ray spectrometers, including recently irradiated materials, nuclear material from various stages of the fuel cycle, and medical isotope products. It also highlights useful signatures from actinide and fission product gamma-rays that are otherwise infeasible to observe or use for analysis without costly chemical separations and mass spectrometric assay. Microcalorimeter technology provides additional spectral signatures to existing techniques to better constrain the origin and intended use of nuclear and radioactive materials.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2997708

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 3001300

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--213587

Journal Information:: Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering, Journal Name: Frontiers in Nuclear Engineering Vol. 4; ISSN 2813-3412

Publisher:: Frontiers Media S.A.Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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