ISSN:
1588-2780
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
Notes:
Abstract Plutonium, seized from illicit trafficking in nuclear materials, can originate from several, distinct sources. The primary focus of nuclear-forensics investigations of confiscated Pu is to specify correctly its origin. We demonstrate that such specification is possible by means of accurate determination the Pu isotopic composition. In this study, five Pu samples of different origins were analysed by thermal-ionisation mass spectrometry. The source (i.e., the type of production reactor) of each sample was determined by comparing the measured Pu isotopic composition with that calculated by one of two reactor-production computer codes, ORIGEN2 and SCALE. These results, in conjunction with the age determination of each sample, allow us to deduce the origin of each.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1006774524272
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