Determination of the 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratio in soils from Palomares (Spain) by low-energy accelerator mass spectrometry
✍ Scribed by E. Chamizo; M. García-León; H.-A. Synal; M. Suter; L. Wacker
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2006
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 177 KB
- Volume
- 249
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0168-583X
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✦ Synopsis
In 1966, the nuclear fuel of two thermonuclear bombs was released over the Spanish region of Palomares, due to a B52 bomber accident during a refuelling operation. Since then, much effort has been made to assess its impact to the different environmental compartments of this area in South-East Spain, mostly by measuring the 239+240 Pu activity concentration and the 238 Pu/ 239+240 Pu activity ratio. Nevertheless, these measurements do not give enough information on the problem. In order to recognize unambiguously small traces of the weapon-grade plutonium released in the accident, the ratio of the two major isotopes of plutonium, 240 Pu/ 239 Pu, has to be determined. In this work, this ratio has been measured in low-and high-activity samples from Palomares by means of low-energy accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). That way, we will show the potential of the new generation of compact AMS facilities in terms of plutonium characterization at ultra-trace levels.