A method to determine the time since last purification of weapons grade plutonium.
A non-destructive technique to determine the time since last purification of weapons grade plutonium based on the 241Pu decay series has been developed and demonstrated to provide results that are consistent with our historical and process knowledge. This method is based on the use of the Bateman equations and the decay chain 241Pu-->237U & 241Am-->237Np-->233Pa. Secular equilibrium is assumed between the (2.1 x 10(6) year) 237Np and the (27 day) 233Pa. The proposed method is dependent upon the efficiency of the plutonium separation process but makes no assumption about the relative abundance of 241Pu in 239Pu. Even though the technique was developed for weapons grade plutonium, it is expected to apply to almost any material that contains plutonium.
Keegan
R P
RP
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Mail Stop 2114, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-2114, USA. keegrp@inel.gov
Gehrke
R J
RJ
D000465:Algorithms; D006207:Half-Life; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011850:Radioactive Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013051:Spectrometry, Gamma / Q000379:methods*
D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011005:Plutonium