A Review of Methodologies for Determining the Age and History of Nuclear Materials of Interest in the Nuclear Safeguards, Arms Control, and Nonproliferation Regimes

In the nuclear safeguards, arms control, and non proliferation regimes there is a compelling need for analytical methods which will provide information on the age of various materials since chemical separation, and to the extent possible, thier history,i.e., methods of production, and exposure to neutron flux other environments which influence thier properties. where possible, a unique signature for an individual item can be of great value. While analytical methods for investigating these materials utilizing chemical separation and mass spectrometry feasibility, sensitivity, and achievable accuracy of alternate methodologies, including high diffraction, fission track detection, and ICP mass spectrometr will be discussed. In certain instances thse approaches afford advantages in terms of cost, elapsed time for receipt of results, and field deployability. Methods for analyzing samples of plutonium, uranium, including uranium in the form of UF6, neptunium, and thorium are reviewed.