Gamma and Decay Energy Spectroscopy Measurements of Trinitite

Journal Article · 15 November 2021 · Nuclear Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2021.1922258 · OSTI ID:1838293

Mercer, David James  ^[1]; Koehler, Katrina Elizabeth  ^[1]; Croce, Mark Philip  ^[1]; Hoover, Andrew Scott  ^[1]; Hypes, Philip A. ^[1]; Kozimor, Stosh Anthony  ^[1]; Mocko, Veronika  ^[1]; Saey, Paul R. J. ^[2]; Schmidt, Daniel R. ^[3]; Ullom, Joel N. ^[3]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
2. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
3. National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)

We report gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements of trinitite samples and analogous samples obtained from detonation sites in Nevada and Semipalatinsk, as well as in situ measurements of topsoil at the Trinity site. We also report the first isotopic composition measurements of trinitite using the novel forensics technique of decay energy spectroscopy (DES) as a complement to traditional forensics techniques. Our gamma spectroscopy and DES measurements are compared to other published results.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 1838293
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--21-20857
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: sup1 Vol. 207; ISSN 0029-5450
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis - formerly American Nuclear Society (ANS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English