Ultra-high-resolution alpha spectrometry for nuclear forensics and safeguards applications

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010

OSTI ID:1023435

Bacrania, Minesh K ^[1]; Croce, Mark ^[1]; Bond, Evelyn ^[1]; Dry, Donald ^[1]; Moody, W Allen ^[1]; Lamont, Stephen ^[1]; Rabin, Michael ^[1]; Rim, Jung ^[1]; Smith, Audrey ^[1]; Beall, James ^[2]; Bennett, Douglas ^[2]; Kotsubo, Vincent ^[2]; Horansky, Robert ^[2]; Hilton, Gene ^[2]; Schmidt, Daniel ^[2]; Ullom, Joel ^[2]; Cantor, Robin ^[3]

---

1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. NIST-BOULDER
3. STAR CRYOELECTRONICS

We will present our work on the development of ultra-high-resolution detectors for alpha particle spectrometry. These detectors, based on superconducting transition-edge sensors, offer energy resolution that is five to ten times better than conventional silicon detectors. Using these microcalorimeter detectors, the isotopic composition of mixed-actinide samples can be determined rapidly without the need for actinide separation chemistry to isolate each element, or mass spectrometry to separate isotopic signatures that can not be resolved using traditional alpha spectrometry (e.g. Pu-239/Pu-240, or Pu-238/Am-241). This paper will cover the detector and measurement system, actinide source preparation, and the quantitative isotopic analysis of a number of forensics- and safeguards-relevant radioactive sources.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1023435
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-10-04685; LA-UR-10-4685; TRN: US1104540
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACTINIDES
ALPHA PARTICLES
ALPHA SPECTROSCOPY
CHEMISTRY
ENERGY RESOLUTION
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
SAFEGUARDS
SENSORS
SILICON
SPECTROSCOPY