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Safeguards Analytical Laboratory

Radiometry

The "Radiometry" group applies a large variety of methods based on the measurement of emitted radiation.

These techniques include:

Alpha Ray Spectrometry routinely gives information about the isotopic composition of plutonium and uranium. It is the most sensitive technique for the determination of 232U in uranium samples, with limits of detection of 0.2 ppb in uranium oxide.

Gamma Ray Spectrometry is widely used to measure the elemental concentration and isotopic abundance of uranium and plutonium as well as fission product isotopes. The methods cover the span from nuclear fuel cycle to environmental type samples. Equipment beside a number of High Resolution Germanium detectors, also includes a Low Level Gamma Counter with Compton suppression.



Low Level Gamma Counter












Liquid Scintillation Counting is used for the quantification of α/β emitting isotopes.

X-ray Fluorescence is used to measure most elements from the periodic table with atomic weights greater than carbon. Energy and wavelength dispersive instruments are available for this purpose.