Title: Application of chemometry for identification of the source of plutonium

Authors: Devanathan Alamelu, Suresh K. Aggarwal

Addresses: Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India. ' Fuel Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085, India

Abstract: Isotope correlations and chemometry using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been used on the experimental data on Pu from different kinds of reactors, e.g. research, power reactors with low and high burn-up as well as for fuels with different ²³⁵U content. It is demonstrated that the combined use of isotope correlations and PCA is a powerful tool to discriminate Pu originating from different types of reactors. We believe that these studies are valuable for the growing branch of nuclear forensics.

Keywords: plutonium; isotopic composition; isotope correlation; chemometry; PCA; principal component analysis; research reactors; power reactors; neutron spectrum; mass spectrometry; alpha spectrometry; nuclear forensics; nuclear energy; nuclear power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2011.039245

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2011 Vol.6 No.1, pp.30 - 36

Published online: 14 Feb 2015 *

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