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HOW OLD IS IT? - 241PU/AMNUCLEAR FORENSIC CHRONOLOGY REFERENCE MATERIALS
Published
Author(s)
Ryan P. Fitzgerald, Kenneth G. Inn
Abstract
One material attribute for nuclear forensics is material age. 241Pu is almost always present in uranium- and plutonium-based nuclear weapons, which pose the greatest threat to our security. The in-growth of 241Am due to the decay of 241Pu provides an excellent chronometer of the material. A well-characterized 241Pu/241Am standard is needed to validate measurement capability, as a basis for between-laboratory comparability, and as material for verifying laboratory performance. This effort verifies the certification of a 38 year old 241Pu Standard Reference Material (SRM4340) through alpha-gamma anticoincidence counting, and also establishes the separation date to two weeks of the documented date.
Citation
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
Nuclear Forensics, Radiochronometer, 241Pu, 241Am, Standard Reference Material 4340, Alpha- Gamma Anticoincidence Counting
, R.
and Inn, K.
(2015),
HOW OLD IS IT? - 241PU/AMNUCLEAR FORENSIC CHRONOLOGY REFERENCE MATERIALS, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
(Accessed May 30, 2023)