Uranium and plutonium solution assays by transmission-corrected x-ray211 fluorescence

摘要

We have refined and tested a previously developed x-ray fluorescence analysis211u001etechnique for uranium and plutonium solutions that compensates for variations in 211u001ethe absorption of the exciting gamma rays and fluorescent x-rays. We use 57 Co to 211u001eefficiently excite the K lines of the elements, and a mixed (57)Co plus (153)Gd 211u001etransmission source to correct for variations in absorption. The absorption 211u001ecorrection is a unique feature of our technique. It is possible to accurately 211u001ecalibrate the system with a single solution standard. There does not need to be a 211u001eclose match in composition (i.e., absorption) between the standard(s) and 211u001esolutions to be analyzed.