High resolution alpha-particle spectrometry for the determination of 240Pu/219Pu atom ratio in Pu samples from PHWR

High resolution alpha-particle spectrometry (HRAS), using electrodeposited sources and applying the WmALPHA program for spectral analysis, was evaluated for the determination of Pu-240/Pu-239 atom ratios in different Pu samples. The results obtained correspond well within 2-5% with the certified ratios determined by thermal ionization mass spectrometry and show the usefulness of HRAS for determining Pu-240/Pu-239 atom ratios in Pu samples. Using the alpha-particle energies of Pu-219 + Pu-240 for the energy calibration was found to be critical in achieving accurate results by HRAS. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.