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Stable neodymium isotopic composition of nuclear debris samples

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Abstract

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 142Nd, the only isotope of Nd which is blocked from fission product decay. By measuring 144Nd/142Nd and the total number of atoms of 142Nd 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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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development within the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. This document is approved for unlimited public release through Los Alamos National Laboratory under LA-UR-23-21065.

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

    Genna M. Patton, Jeremy D. Inglis, Matthew E. Sanborn & Susan K. Hanson

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Correspondence to Genna M. Patton.

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Patton, G.M., Inglis, J.D., Sanborn, M.E. et al. Stable neodymium isotopic composition of nuclear debris samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 332, 2715–2723 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-023-08935-z

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