Test and Evaluation of the FRAM Isotopic Analysis Code for EURATOM Applications

Year
1999
Author(s)
T. E. Sampson - Los Alamos National Laboratory
M. Swinhoe - Euratom Safeguards Directorate
P. Schwalbach - Euratom Safeguards Office
G. Verrecchia - EC Safeguards Directorate
J. Gustafsson - Euratom Safeguards Directorate
Abstract
We have made gamma-ray isotopic composition measurements on uranium and plutonium samples and analyzed the data with the FRAM isotopic analysis software. The measured samples were at two different facilities of direct interest for EURATOM safeguards inspections. The first set of measurements were made on UF, cylinders. These measurements were undertaken to test FRAM as a method to supplement the calibration-intensive, classical 235U Enrichment Meter method and also to prove its capability on thick-walled UF, cylinders where other arbitrary sample/geometry methods using the 100 keV region fail. The second set of measurements were made on plutonium-bearing sampIes to demonstrate capability through heavy-walled containers, on mixed oxide (MOX), and to make comparisons with the EURATOM version of MGA (Multi-Group Analysis).