New Absorber Attachment Method for Microcalorimeter Decay Energy Spectroscopy

Year
2024
Author(s)
Sophie Weidenbenner - Oregon State University, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Camille Palmer - Oregon State University
Mark Croce - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Katrina E. Koehler - Los Alamos National Laboratory, Houghton University
Daniel McNeel - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Timothy Ockrin - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Katherine Schreiber - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Rico Schoenemann - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Matthew Carpenter - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Abstract

Microcalorimeter Decay Energy Spectroscopy (DES) is of interest to international nuclear safeguards due to its ability to provide high precision isotopic compositions of nanogram- to microgram-scale samples of Pu and U. DES measures the unique Q-value of each alpha-decaying isotope in a sample that is embedded in a metal matrix (absorber) and thermally linked to a microcalorimeter detector. We aim to optimize the method used to create the thermal link between the absorber and microcalorimeter to be easier to use, allow for more rapid assembly and increase detector performance and lifetime. Implementing this optimized attachment method is crucial for enhancing the viability of DES in high-sample-throughput facilities, such as those that support international nuclear safeguards measurements. This paper covers the procedure for current DES detector assembly to provide a baseline for sample swapping efficiency, describes past and current absorber attachment methods, and evaluates the design and testing of a new clamping method for absorber attachment.