This lecture covers the utilization of radionuclide properties to determine origin, age, used, and other properties of nuclear material. These isotope properties are defined as signatures of nuclear material, and include concentrations, relative amounts, and ratios. Specific details are provided on forensic signatures related to Pu and actinide isotopics. The signatures arising from reactors, separations, and post-detonation are included. For plutonium production these signatures include reactor power, reactor type, time of irradiation, separation method, and time since separation. The signatures include plutonium isotopic mass ratios, plutonium isotopic activity ratios, and transplutonium isotope ratios. Separation signatures include evaluation of Zr, Tc, Ru, and the lanthanides, with examples using Nd isotopics. Alloys of actinide metals as signatures is also presented.
Finished the lecture and Quiz. The most interesting part about this lecture was probably learning about devices and how they differed from reactors based on their signatures. On the side, has anyone been able to access the class website today? I'm wondering if its just my computer or if the page is down at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThank for the comment. For the webpage I am also having issues. I contacted UNLV and this is being evaluated.
DeleteFinished the lecture and quiz. It's interesting that the radiation can cause polymerization of products in the organic phase.
ReplyDeleteThey actually use that property to form organic polymers. This is also the basis of using radiation for chemical reactions.
DeleteFinished the lecture. It's interesting the things you learn which should seem obvious but you don't think of them like the polymerization due to radiation effects. Anyways, final lecture woo!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. And I agree, woo too!
DeleteFinished lecture and quiz. I thought it was interesting that one could trace back a sample of Pu back to its reactor type just by looking at an isotopic ratio.
ReplyDeleteThe isotopics are driven by the relative rate of nuclear reactions, which is based on neutron flux and relative energy. This really employs the fundamental equations presented early in the course.
DeleteFinished the lecture and quiz, it was interesting to see more practical uses of these techniques, would you consider posting the lecture on reactors anyway?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. I will post the reactor lecture as a bonus.
DeleteFinished the lecture and quiz. I think this lecture was a good summary of how I've felt about this material. It's fascinating and incredible that people are able to utilize the knowledge and come up with so many brilliant things. I'd be interested in watching the Nuclear Reactor lecture for sure!
ReplyDeletethanks for the comments. I am glad this was a reasonable summary lecture. I hope to post the bonus nuclear reactor lecture this week.
DeleteJust finished and submitted the quiz! Very cool to see how much information can be obtained via ratios of different isotopic components!!
ReplyDeleteFinished the quiz and lecture.
ReplyDeleteI have finished the lecture and submitted the quiz. Sorry for the late response and submission.
ReplyDeleteJust finished the quiz and lecture!
ReplyDeleteDone with quiz and lecture.
ReplyDelete