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Nuclear Forensics Summer School Introduction

Nuclear Forensics Summer School Introduction. Course developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, Livermore National Laboratory, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Washington State University Class organization Outcomes Grading Schedule Laboratory component

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Nuclear Forensics Summer School Introduction

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  1. Nuclear Forensics Summer SchoolIntroduction • Course developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory, Livermore National Laboratory, University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Washington State University • Class organization • Outcomes • Grading • Schedule • Laboratory component The goal of summer program is to develop, initiate, and implement a comprehensive, experimental, hands-on training curriculum in topics essential to nuclear forensics as a means of attracting students to pursue graduate studies in technical fields relevant to nuclear forensics.

  2. Introduction For nuclear forensics identification of signatures key in tracing information on material • Date of production or separation • Method of production or separation • Techniques in production or formulation • Location of production • Class location and time • Daily 0900-1100 and 1330-1530 • WRI 223 (Special topic lecture location may be changed to larger classroom) Web page: radchem.nevada.edu/nfss

  3. Course Outcomes • Understand and utilize the chart of the nuclides • Data • Cross sections, fission yields, half-life, percent abundance, decay modes, energies, isotopic mass, spin, parity, metastable states • Basis for reactions • Parent-daughter relationships • Comprehend the different modes of radioactive decay • Alpha, beta, positron, electron capture, gamma, isomeric transition, spontaneous fission, neutron, proton, cluster decay • Understand the components of the nucleus and how it influences nuclear properties • Number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus

  4. Course Outcomes 4. Understand how fission is induced and the resulting products • Induced fission, spontaneous fission, role of neutron energetics and fissile isotope in fission product distribution • Understand and apply radiation detection or mass spectroscopy to determine isotope concentration or ratios • Isotope-energy relationships • mass spectroscopy techniques and limitations Understand fundamental components and chemistry in the nuclear fuel cycle • Separation of actinides and fission products • Solvent extraction chemistry, ion chromatography • Role of oxidation state and ionic radius in dictating separations

  5. Course Outcomes • Understand fundamental components and chemistry in the nuclear fuel cycle • Actinide separations • Solvent extraction and ion exchange 7. Understand the chemistry of key radionuclides in application important to nuclear forensics • Actinides • Fissile components • Enrichment • Production from neutron reactions • Fission products • Production methods • Fissile material • Source of fission products

  6. Course Outcomes 8. Understanding the application of analytical methods in characterizing materials • Radiochemical, radioanalytical, • Microscopic • analytical • Mass spectroscopy, chemical composition 9. Knowledge of contemporary issues in nuclear forensics • Materials • Techniques • Direction

  7. Grading • Lecture course • One final scheduled • Can provide weekly exams (take home) • Can vary this week based on student input • Laboratory • Varied laboratory locations (Health Physics and HRC) • Write up of laboratory • Based on manuscript format • Abstract • Introduction • Methods • Results/Conclusion • Discussion • forensic and signature application • Improvement of laboratory module

  8. Schedule

  9. Schedule

  10. Laboratory • Divided into 2-4 hour modules • Each student group will do two modules each laboratory day • 6 total laboratory modules • 1 module with all students • 2 students per student group • Identify student groups by Wednesday 26 May • Need to take and pass radiation safety training • Lecture followed by exam (passing is greater than 90 %) • Laboratory practical • Methods for safe handling of radioactive materials

  11. Laboratory Modules • Radiation safety • 1st module taken by all students • Swipes, handing of material, general protocols • Alpha spectroscopy • Inverse square law • Isotopics • Decay energy branching • Gamma spectroscopy • Calibration • Measuring samples

  12. Laboratory Modules • Mass spectroscopy • Introduction to ICP-MS • Determination of concentration • Determination of U isotopics • Radiochemical separations • Solvent extraction with tributylphosphate • Separation of Pu from U • Formation of oxide ceramics • Precipitation from salts • ZrO2 • ZrO2–UO2 • Basis for formation of nuclear fuel

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