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

Authors

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

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Issue

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

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.