6533b7d7fe1ef96bd1267953
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Determination of the content in uranium oxide particles by fission track analysis
Norbert TrautmannMaria BettiRoland SchenkelOlaf StetzerOlaf StetzerN. ErdmannJacobus Van GeelJ. V. Kratzsubject
PhysicsNuclear and High Energy PhysicsIsotopes of uraniumFissionRadiochemistrychemistry.chemical_elementUraniumEnriched uraniumNuclear physicschemistry.chemical_compoundchemistryUranium-235Uranium oxideParticleNeutronInstrumentationdescription
Abstract One of the most important tasks of nuclear safeguards is to control the activities in nuclear facilities worldwide. These activities include the enrichment of 235 U . To identify enrichments above the maximum authorised level in commercial enrichment plants (usually 5% 235 U ) swipe tests are performed and the 235 U enrichment is determined in the sampled uranium oxide particles. A method is described that allows to measure the 235 U content in small particles (around 1 μm in diameter) by the use of fission tracks. It is based on the fact that in uranium fuel, only 235 U atoms are fissile with thermal neutrons and contribute to the amount of fission tracks counted for individual particles. Standard uranium oxide particles with a defined diameter and isotopic composition were prepared and used to calibrate the method. Results show that the detection efficiency has a non-linear dependence on the number of fission tracks per particle. The enrichment in 235 U for single particles can be determined when good size measurements of the particles in a sample are available.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-06-01 | Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment |