Isotopic uranium and plutonium analysis by alpha-particle spectrometry

An isotopic uranium analysis of environmental and man-made samples was performed by alpha-particle spectrometry. A fitting technique using blocks of peaks in the spectra measured with silicon detectors was developed. Samples of natural uranium from conventional mines and from the Bangombe natural nuclear reactor were analysed. The isotope composition of depleted and enriched uranium samples was also determined. The technique was applied to determining the isotope composition of plutonium samples, identifying whether the samples were reactor-grade or weapons-grade plutonium. Spectra of soil samples from Palomares and others from an inter-laboratory comparison exercise were analysed, yielding very good results. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.