DEVELOPMENT OF URANIUM OXIDE REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR GAMMA-RAY MEASUREMENTS OF THE ENRICHMENT

The application of gamma-ray measurements for uranium enrichment determinations is now a mature technique finding widespread use. These facts led the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) Working Group on Techniques and Standards for Non-Destructive Analysis to conclude that the development of certified reference materials for low-enriched uranium oxide was the next necessary step to enhance the usefulness of the technique. This paper describes the cooperative development of these certified reference materials in the European Community and the United States of America. The following organizations are taking part in the development: The ESARDA working group, the Commission of the European Communities Joint Research Centre - Gee! Establishment - Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements, the U. S. National Bureau of Standards, the New Brunswick Laboratory, and the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.