Using gamma-ray microcalorimeters to lower uncertainty in non-destructive analysis
measurements through improvement of nuclear reference data

Year
2023
Author(s)
A. Wessels - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, USA
D.T. Becker - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, USA
D. A. Bennett - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO
M.H. Carpenter - Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
M. Croce - Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
J.W. Fowler - University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA & National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, USA
J.D. Gard - University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
J. Imrek - Theiss Research, La Jolla, California, USA
K.E. Koehler - Houghton University, Houghton, New York, USA
J.A.B. Mates - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, USA
D.J. Mercer - Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
N.J. Ortiz - University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
C.D. Reintsema - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, USA
D.R. Schmidt - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, USA
K.A. Schreiber - Los Alamos National Laboratory
D.S. Swetz - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, USA
J.N. Ullom - University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA & National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, USA
L.R. Vale - National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, USA
D. T. Vo - Los Alamos National Laboratory
File Attachment
finalpaper_570_0512113452.pdf996.06 KB
Abstract
Increased accuracy in nuclear non-destructive analysis measurements will improve safeguarding of nuclear facilities. Superconducting microcalorimeters are an emerging technology which achieves better energy resolution than High-Purity Ge (HPGe) detectors at 100 keV by a factor of about ten, which enables them to acquire ultra-high-resolution gamma-ray spectra for isotopic analysis of nuclear materials. Due to their unique combination of collecting efficiency and resolving power, these devices are also capable of performing accurate measurements of fundamental nuclear and x-ray parameters. Detailed analysis of both HPGe and microcalorimeter spectra has shown that improvements in measurements of photon branching ratios, line energies and actinide x-ray linewidths could lead to significant improvements in accuracy of extracted isotopic ratios for both microcalorimeters and HPGe detectors. This is because values for several fundamental parameters are required to determine isotopic ratios from gamma-ray spectra. Here we will present work being done with microcalorimeters to improve nuclear reference data, and potential future measurements that are feasible with this technology. We will describe past and ongoing measurements of branching ratios, and recent analysis done to extract actinide x-ray linewidth values from the 100 keV region of Pu spectra. Additionally, we will discuss analysis methods and the benefits of using microcalorimeters for this type of analysis.