POOR MAN'S DENSITOMETRY

We have developed two novel methods of determining plutonium concentrations (and isotopic distribution) that require no external radioactive sources or x-ray generators but rely only on the natural radiation from the plutonium. The methods are ideally suited to assay reasonably pure plutonium solutions, such as product solutions of reprocessing plants and eluate solutions from anion exchange columns. The methods can be applied to aged or freshly separated plutonium and can be used to measure plutonium concentrations in pipes or tanks. Because these methods do not require expensive equipment, we call them \"Poor Man's Densitometry.\"