Isotope Correlations for Determination of Isotopic Composition of Plutonium

摘要

Isotope correlations were developed using the experimentally determined isotopic composition data of Pu produced in Indian PHWRs. Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS) and alpha spectrometry were employed for obtaining the data on abundances of different Pu isotopes. Linear correlations were obtained between 23SPu/(239Pu + 240Pu) alpha activity ratio vs. 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio as well as between 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio vs. 241Pu/239Pu and 242Pu/239Pu atom ratios. The correlations can be used to obtain data on the abundances of different Pu isotopes with an accuracy of 2 to 10% which is useful for radiometric assay of Pu samples. Principal component analysis is shown as a useful tool for the classification of the source of Pu.