High-Resolution Gamma-Ray Isotopic Measurements of Uranium Plutonium Samples

Year
1999
Author(s)
T. E. Sampson - Los Alamos National Laboratory
G. M. Bezhunov - Institute for Physics and Power Engineering
A. Savlov - Institute of Physics and Power Engineering
Winifred Parker - Lawrence Liver-more National Laboratory
Steven A. Kreek - Lawrence Liver-more National Laboratory
I.V Mikhailova - Institute of Physics and Power Engineering
Abstract
Measurement of various U and Pu samples by gamma-ray spectrometry were performed at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering to support physical-inventory-taking activities under the Joint US-Russian MPC&A Program. The resulting data was analyzed by several different methods, which included Canberra’s MGA (Pu and MOX analysis) and MGAU (U analysis), EG,&G Ortec’s MGA++ (Pu and MOX analysis) and U235 (U analysis) codes, and FRAM (U and Pu analysis). The results indicate that all of these codes are capable of performing the isotopic analysis adequately. However, some additional modifications may be required to permit better measurement of some of the more unusual components in the IPPE inventory to meet the demands of inventory-taking activities.