Search

The development of two generations of a one-dimensional gamma mapping system is described. These systems use high-Z shielding, linear stage, and a high-purity germanium detector. Application to items of forensic interest is described and results for such items are presented. The presented results show the fission product (137Cs) and activation product (60Co) distributions along one-dimension of an archival item. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid radioanalytical methods are adversely affected by many different sample-matrix interferences, which make analyzing samples a difficult and time consuming process. A new method for preparing radioactive samples for analysis by alpha spectrometry has been demonstrated. In this technique, a selective extractive ligand is immobilized in a polymer film coated on a metal surface. This polymer ligand film is then used to extract plutonium and other radioactive analytes from solution over a short period of time. The prepared substrate is then counted directly by alpha spectroscopy in a small single detector alpha spectrometer. The method has been demonstrated for the analysis of americium and plutonium in liquid samples such as water and urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plutonium metal exchange programs operated by the Rocky Flats Plant were conducted from 1956–1989 to ensure quality and to compare measurements in a plutonium metal matrix. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) re-established the program in 2001 to assess the quality of analytical chemistry capabilities that support special nuclear material characterization. It is the only program of its kind for the preparation and distribution of plutonium metal reference materials with a range of impurity contents to multiple laboratories for destructive measurements of elemental concentration, isotopic abundance, and both metallic and non-metallic impurity levels. This program provides independent verification of analytical measurement capabilities for each of the seven currently participating laboratories, and allows any technical problems with analytical measurements to be identified and corrected. This paper focuses on basic program elements and presents a summary of methods and results for plutonium, uranium, neptunium, and americium, measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]