Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques
Abstract
Nuclear forensics techniques, including micro-XRF, gamma spectrometry, trace elemental analysis and isotopic/chronometric characterization were used to interrogate two, potentially related plutonium metal foils. These samples were submitted for analysis with only limited production information, and a comprehensive suite of forensic analyses were performed. Resulting analytical data was paired with available reactor model and historical information to provide insight into the materials’ properties, origins, and likely intended uses. Both were super-grade plutonium, containing less than 3% 240Pu, and age-dating suggested that most recent chemical purification occurred in 1948 and 1955 for the respective metals. Additional consideration of reactor modelling feedback and trace elemental observables indicate plausible U.S. reactor origin associated with the Hanford site production efforts. In conclusion, based on this investigation, the most likely intended use for these plutonium foils was 239Pu fission foil targets for physics experiments, such as cross-section measurements, etc.
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1340963
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1414591
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-16-22022
Journal ID: ISSN 0379-0738
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Forensic Science International
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 273; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0379-0738
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; nuclear forensics; plutonium; Special Nuclear Materials; fission foil; chronometry; age dating
Citation Formats
Rim, Jung H., Kuhn, Kevin J., Tandon, Lav, Xu, Ning, Porterfield, Donivan R., Worley, Christopher G., Thomas, Mariam R., Spencer, Khalil J., Stanley, Floyd E., Lujan, Elmer J., Garduno, Katherine, and Trellue, Holly R. Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.01.014.
Rim, Jung H., Kuhn, Kevin J., Tandon, Lav, Xu, Ning, Porterfield, Donivan R., Worley, Christopher G., Thomas, Mariam R., Spencer, Khalil J., Stanley, Floyd E., Lujan, Elmer J., Garduno, Katherine, & Trellue, Holly R. Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.01.014
Rim, Jung H., Kuhn, Kevin J., Tandon, Lav, Xu, Ning, Porterfield, Donivan R., Worley, Christopher G., Thomas, Mariam R., Spencer, Khalil J., Stanley, Floyd E., Lujan, Elmer J., Garduno, Katherine, and Trellue, Holly R. Sat .
"Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.01.014. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1340963.
@article{osti_1340963,
title = {Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques},
author = {Rim, Jung H. and Kuhn, Kevin J. and Tandon, Lav and Xu, Ning and Porterfield, Donivan R. and Worley, Christopher G. and Thomas, Mariam R. and Spencer, Khalil J. and Stanley, Floyd E. and Lujan, Elmer J. and Garduno, Katherine and Trellue, Holly R.},
abstractNote = {Nuclear forensics techniques, including micro-XRF, gamma spectrometry, trace elemental analysis and isotopic/chronometric characterization were used to interrogate two, potentially related plutonium metal foils. These samples were submitted for analysis with only limited production information, and a comprehensive suite of forensic analyses were performed. Resulting analytical data was paired with available reactor model and historical information to provide insight into the materials’ properties, origins, and likely intended uses. Both were super-grade plutonium, containing less than 3% 240Pu, and age-dating suggested that most recent chemical purification occurred in 1948 and 1955 for the respective metals. Additional consideration of reactor modelling feedback and trace elemental observables indicate plausible U.S. reactor origin associated with the Hanford site production efforts. In conclusion, based on this investigation, the most likely intended use for these plutonium foils was 239Pu fission foil targets for physics experiments, such as cross-section measurements, etc.},
doi = {10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.01.014},
journal = {Forensic Science International},
number = C,
volume = 273,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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