Estimation of the plutonium isotopic ratio in a plutonium-beryllium howitzer using gamma spectrometry

Authors

John Jerome G. Mataac ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology − Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Cheri Anne M. Dingle ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology − Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Frederick C. Hila ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology − Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Julius Federico M. Jecong ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology − Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
Alvie A. Astronomo ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology − Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

Abstract

The gamma-ray spectrum of a ²³⁹PuBe neutron source was analyzed to identify and quantify its isotopic composition. In addition to the previously reported ²³⁹Pu isotope, the present work confirms the presence of ²⁴⁰Pu and ²⁴¹Pu. The isotopes' theoretical masses were computed to be 16.1 g ²³⁹Pu, 3.96 g ²⁴⁰Pu, and 1.86 mg ²⁴¹Pu. Based on these, the ²³⁹PuBe neutron howitzer contains 80.24% ²³⁹Pu, 19.73% ²⁴⁰Pu, and 0.03% ²⁴¹Pu. The results will be useful in simulating irradiation systems based on ²³⁹PuBe (e.g., low-dose uniform neutron irradiation system) and verifying dose rates and neutron fluxes for various applications such as neutron activation analysis and detector calibration.

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Issue

2022: Proceedings of the 40th Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas Physics Conference

Article ID

SPP-2022-PA-05

Section

Poster Session A (Materials Science, Instrumentation, and Photonics)

Published

2022-10-01

How to Cite

[1]

JJG Mataac, CAM Dingle, FC Hila, JFM Jecong, and AA Astronomo, Estimation of the plutonium isotopic ratio in a plutonium-beryllium howitzer using gamma spectrometry, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 40, SPP-2022-PA-05 (2022). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2022-PA-05.