Year
2000
Abstract
This paper describes the results of hybrid k-edge/x-ray fluorescence densitometer (HKED) research performed at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safeguards Analytical Laboratory (SAL) in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The United States Program for Technical Assistance to IAEA Safeguards (POTAS) commissioned this project to address foreseen challenges in the application of HKED technology at analytical laboratories. The research performed in this study is significant because it demonstrates that advanced HKED analytical software developed at LANL is applicable to samples that were traditionally difficult or impossible to analyze. For existing HKED systems, advanced software can provide increased measurement capability while requiring little or no change in hardware. The collaboration between SAL and LANL consisted of two phases. First, the 16-bit LANL HKED analytical code was modified to perform offline analysis of spectra acquired on the original HKED system at SAL. Next, a 32-bit version of the code was developed to perform both analytical and hardware control functions on a second HKED system at SAL. The measurement performance of the LANL HKED software on these systems is described.