4.5 Article

Stable neodymium isotopic composition of nuclear debris samples

Journal

JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
Volume 332, Issue 7, Pages 2715-2723

Publisher

SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-023-08935-z

Keywords

Nuclear debris; Trinitite; Neodymium isotope ratios; Nuclear forensic analysis

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Fission reactions lead to the decay of Nd isotopes, which alters the measured Nd isotopic compositions in nuclear debris. Trinitite samples analyzed by MC-ICP-MS show deviations in Nd isotopes relative to Nd-142, the only isotope that is unaffected by fission product decay. By measuring the Nd-144/Nd-142 ratio and the total number of Nd-142 atoms in the sample, it is possible to quantify the total number of fissions in nuclear debris, which is crucial in post-detonation nuclear forensics.
Fission reactions result in Nd isotope decay products which alter Nd isotopic compositions measured in nuclear debris. Trinitite samples measured by MC-ICP-MS show perturbations of Nd isotopes relative to Nd-142, the only isotope of Nd which is blocked from fission product decay. By measuring Nd-144/Nd-142 and the total number of atoms of Nd-142 in the sample, it is possible to quantify the total number of fissions in nuclear debris, an important signature in post-detonation nuclear forensics.

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