Year
2021
Abstract
The use of HPGe and gamma spectroscopy for the purpose of determining the isotopic composition of plutonium and uranium has a well-documented history in Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) and IAEA Nuclear Measurement Accountancy and Control (NMAC) measurements. Commercially available applications such as MGA/MGAU and FRAM allow for the isotopic analysis to be automated, but there are basic detector performance criteria that are typically required to produce high-quality results with low uncertainty estimates. Often the quality of an algorithm within a software application is paired with the excellent peak shape, high-efficiency, and portability of the measuring instrument. Recently, we have developed a new portable detector that supports both a high quality peak shape response in conjunction to relatively high efficiency. This paper presents the performance measurement results of uranium standards, of varying enrichments, and plutonium standards, of varying effective Pu-240 , accomplished with the new Mirion Technologies Aegis BE5030 portable detector and spectrometer. The isotopic and quantitative analyses were performed with MGA, MGAU and FRAM. The measurements were made with Aegis detectors with a range of performance levels. The results of the isotopic analysis and activity complete with uncertainties are compared with those of historically acceptable laboratory instruments.