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Identification of unknown nuclear fuel by impurities and physical parameters

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Abstract

Analytical parameters sufficient for identification of nuclear materialof unknown origin have been assayed for a number of examples of uranium dioxidefuel. These parameters comprise isotopic composition of uranium and the morphologyfeatures of a fuel pellet. However, in practice, it occurs that a sample ofan industrial material corresponds frequently to the specification limitsof several suppliers. In order to narrow further a range for potential sources,additional analytical parameters are necessary, such as fuel pellet impuritylevels and surface roughness. In this study we utilise results from the followingnuclear analytical techniques: thermal-ionization mass spectrometry, glowdischarge mass spectrometry and profilometry. By way of example, we demonstratehow these results serve to differentiate the sources of confiscated, vagabondnuclear materials.

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  1. State Research Center, All Russia Scientific and Research Institute for Inorganic Materials, P.O. Box 369, 123060, Moscow, Russia

    N. A. Chorokov

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  1. N. A. Chorokov
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Chorokov, N.A. Identification of unknown nuclear fuel by impurities and physical parameters. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 250, 79–84 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013220415156

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