Determination of the ratios of {sup 239}Pu and {sup 240}Pu to {sup 241}Am for nuclear weapons test sites in Australia
- Australian Radiation Lab., Yallambie (Australia)
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Australia)
Recent measurements of the plutonium contamination at former nuclear weapons test sites in Australia have used the 59.5 keV {gamma} ray from the {sup 241}Am impurity to estimate levels of {sup 239}Pu and {sup 240}Pu. Measurements of the activity ratio of {sup 239}Pu to {sup 241}Am are presented for sites where suitable samples could be collected. Measurements of {sup 240}Pu were also made when interferences from fission products were absent. All measurements were made using a planar Ge detector of the Ge K x-ray escape peaks and Compton scattering continuum from the much stronger 59.5 keV {sup 241}Am {gamma} ray. Results are given for most of the plutonium-contaminated sites in Australia. 9 refs., 2 figs., 5 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 54473
- Journal Information:
- Health Physics, Journal Name: Health Physics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 67; ISSN HLTPAO; ISSN 0017-9078
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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