PuChain-γx: A new software for coupled plutonium radioactive decay chain and photon emission intensities calculation

Authors

  • Frederick Corpus Hila ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Cheri Anne M. Dingle ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Julius Federico M. Jecong ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Jennifer A. Sagum ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Mon Bryan Z. Gili ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • John Jerome G. Mataac ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Charlotte V. Balderas ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Alvie J. Asuncion-Astronomo ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
  • Neil Raymund D. Guillermo ⋅ PH Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Nuclear Research Institute

Abstract

We introduce a new Windows application software called PuChain-γx. It is the first standalone user-friendly software for plutonium (Pu) or Pu-based material's radionuclide γ-ray and x-ray emission intensities calculations that integrates radioactive decay chain progenies. This software considers any user-specified Pu mass, isotopic mix, and age, and instantly gives results in exportable tabular formats. It integrates the most recent IAEA-NDS nuclear data for calculations. Results of the software were used to study the dependence of photon intensities on Pu composition and age, considering the gamma-ray lines from 241Am, 238Pu, and 241Pu. Time-dependence of emission lines were analyzed as a function of 239Pu wt%, where other Pu nuclides' wt% were estimated via curve-fitting from expected isotopic mixes of general Pu grades. The software can serve as a tool in nuclear sciences especially in areas concerning Pu high-energy photon emission estimations.

Downloads

Issue

Article ID

SPP-2022-PB-13

Section

Poster Session B (Complex Systems, Simulations, and Theoretical Physics)

Published

2022-09-18

How to Cite

[1]
FC Hila, CAM Dingle, JFM Jecong, JA Sagum, MBZ Gili, JJG Mataac, CV Balderas, AJ Asuncion-Astronomo, and NRD Guillermo, PuChain-γx: A new software for coupled plutonium radioactive decay chain and photon emission intensities calculation, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 40, SPP-2022-PB-13 (2022). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2022-PB-13.