MATRIX CHARACTERIZATION OF PLUTONIUM RESIDUES BY ALPHA-PARTICLE SELF-INTERROGATION*

Year
1998
Author(s)
T.H. Prettyman - Los Alamos National Laboratory
P. Staples - Los Alamos National Laboratory
L. A. Foster - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Abstract
Legacy plutonium residues often have inadequate item descriptions. Nondestructive characterization can help segregate these items for reprocessing or provide information needed for disposal or storage. Alpha particle-induced gamma-ray spectra contain a wealth of information that can be used for matrix characterization. We demonstrate how this information can be used for item identification. Gamma-ray spectra were recorded at the Los Alamos Plutonium Facility from a variety of legacy, plutonium-processing residues and product materials. The comparison and analysis of these spectra are presented.