EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF MASS ABSORPTION COEFFICIENTS FOR O-Kα IN ACTINIDES

摘要

Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) is a widely used analytical technique for a broad range of applications in nuclear sciences. One main application deals with improving the safety of the nuclear fuel cycle, by studying the chemical and physical properties of spent nuclear fuel and its fission products, either solids, volatiles, or gases, after the irradiation [1]. Of particular interest for the nuclear scientist is the distribution and quantity of actinides in the fuel, before and after irradiation. The fuel types most commonly studied by EPMA are uranium oxide and mixed oxide fuel (MOX) containing a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxide. Minor actinides (Np, Am, Cm) are produced during irradiation by neutron capture and/or alpha-decay of uranium and can be added during fuel fabrication (usually containing the fissile material) in the case of transmutation schemes.