title: Improved determination of plutonium content and isotopic ratios in low activity samples by alpha-particle and underground L X-ray measurement.
abstract: The determination of the isotopic ratio of 239Pu and 240Pu by alpha-particle spectrometry is limited due to the small differences in the alpha-particle energies. But taking into account the differences in the L X-ray emission probabilities of the two plutonium isotopes, an additional L X-ray measurement allows the isotopic ratio of 239Pu and 240Pu to be determined. The sensitivity of this method can be improved, as described in this work, by performing the L X-ray measurement in an underground laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arnold
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000512:Alpha Particles; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods*; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D012990:Soil Pollutants, Radioactive; D011005:Plutonium