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Corrections for the emission probabilities of the intense gamma rays from {sup 238}U and applying them to uranium isotopic analysis

Conference ·
OSTI ID:319607

Gamma-ray emission probabilities of {sup 235}U and {sup 238}U have been studied extensively. While the gamma-ray emission probabilities for {sup 235}U and are well known, the emission probabilities for {sup 238}U differ widely from one study to another. This study indicates that one of the causes of the large discrepancies in the studies may be due to the true coincidence summing of many gamma rays from the decay of {sup 238}U daughters. The intensities of some of the intense gamma rays of {sup 238}U compared with the others were reduced by as much as 16% when the 21-mm-thick U{sub 3}O{sub 8} samples were moved from 15 cm to putting them in contact with the detector. With better knowledge of the gamma-ray emission probabilities and understanding the summing effects of specific gamma rays, the isotopic concentration of uranium can be better analyzed. The results of the isotopic analysis using fixed energy response function analysis with multiple efficiencies (FRAM) with the summing correction are presented in this paper.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
319607
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--98-2941; CONF-980733--; ON: DE99001813
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English