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International cooperation in age-dating uranium standards for nuclear forensics using the 231Pa/235U radiochronometer

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Abstract

During 2017–2018 Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the China Institute of Atomic Energy collaborated in an interlaboratory 231Pa/235U radiochronometry exercise. The laboratories used different analytical methods to obtain a consensus model purification date for CRM U010 of December 28, 1958 ± 198 days and for CRM U850 of May 20, 1958 ± 363 days. These results agree with previously reported model dates using the 230Th/234U radiochronometer as well as the production histories of these materials. The concordance of interlaboratory data confirms the ability of laboratories to make reproducible radiochronometry measurements using distinct analytical approaches.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence office for direct funding. Los Alamos National Laboratory, an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, is managed by Triad National Security, LLC, for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the US Department of Energy Under Contract 89233218CNA000001. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory performed this work under the auspices of the US Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. The China Institute of Atomic Energy wish to thank colleagues at the State Nuclear Security Technology Center in China for assistance with sample ICP-MS measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    Joanna S. Denton, Theresa M. Kayzar-Boggs, Robert E. Steiner & Allison M. Wende

  2. Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA, 94551, USA

    Kerri C. Treinen, Eva Baransky, Amy M. Gaffney, Kyle Samperton & Ross W. Williams

  3. Department of Radiochemistry, China Institute of Atomic Energy, Xinzhen Fangshan District, P.O. Box 275-8, Beijing, 102413, China

    Yan Chen, Sheng-Hui Huang & Yong-Gang Zhao

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  1. Joanna S. Denton
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  2. Kerri C. Treinen
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  3. Yan Chen
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  4. Eva Baransky
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  5. Amy M. Gaffney
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  6. Sheng-Hui Huang
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  7. Theresa M. Kayzar-Boggs
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  8. Kyle Samperton
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  9. Robert E. Steiner
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  10. Allison M. Wende
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  11. Ross W. Williams
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  12. Yong-Gang Zhao
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Correspondence to Joanna S. Denton.

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Denton, J.S., Treinen, K.C., Chen, Y. et al. International cooperation in age-dating uranium standards for nuclear forensics using the 231Pa/235U radiochronometer. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 324, 705–714 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07084-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07084-x

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