Characterization of 235U, 238U and 239Pu fission ionization chamber foils by α and γ-ray spectrometry

Silano, Jack A.; Malone, Ronald C.; Finch, Sean W.; Gooden, Matthew Edgell; Howell, C. R.; Ramirez, Anthony P.D.; Thomas, K.; Tonchev, Anton P.; Tornow, W.; Wilhelmy, Jerry B.

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2024.169234

Title: Characterization of ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu fission ionization chamber foils by α and γ -ray spectrometry

Journal Article · 06 March 2024 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2024.169234 · OSTI ID:2324923

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^[1]; Tonchev, Anton P. ^[4]; Tornow, W. ^[2]; Wilhelmy, Jerry B. ^[3]

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States). Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Duke Univ., Durham, NC (United States)

The masses of thin, electroplated deposits of ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu on titanium backings have been determined to better than 1.3% precision by employing three complementary measurement techniques: $$\alpha$$ spectrometry, 2$$\pi$$ gas counting, and $$\gamma$$-ray spectrometry. A dedicated $$\alpha$$ spectrometer was designed and calibrated to allow for repeatable, high-precision measurements of the absolute $$\alpha$$ activity of a sample. The isotopic composition of the sample was determined by fitting the peaks in the $$\alpha$$ spectrum, a technique which was demonstrated to be generally consistent with mass spectrometry. Independently, the total activity of the deposits were measured in a 2$$\pi$$ gas flow proportional counter. A detailed study of the effects of $$\alpha$$ particle straggling in the actinide deposit and $$\alpha$$ particle recoil off the sample backing material was performed. The masses of these actinide deposits were also measured via $$\gamma$$-ray spectrometry. Here, we found that all three systematically independent techniques produced consistent results, and could be combined into a weighted average with further reduced uncertainty. The mass ratios of these actinide deposits were determined to better than 1% precision via $$\alpha$$ spectrometry, enabling high-precision fission cross section ratio measurements.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Programs (DP); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Nuclear Physics (NP)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; AC52-07NA27344; NA0004067; NA0004069; NA0004077; FG02-97ER41033

OSTI ID:: 2324923

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2324718; OSTI ID: 2325254; OSTI ID: 2325488

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--24-22225; {"","Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002"}

Journal Information:: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Vol. 1063; ISSN 0168-9002

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Alpha spectrometry
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Title: Characterization of 235U, 238U and 239Pu fission ionization chamber foils by α and γ -ray spectrometry

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References (38)

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Title: Characterization of ²³⁵U, ²³⁸U and ²³⁹Pu fission ionization chamber foils by α and γ -ray spectrometry