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Characterization of an orphan Ra–Be neutron source

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Abstract

An orphan radium-beryllium (Ra–Be) neutron source (Nuclear Chicago Corporation) detected inside a scrap metal shipping container, was seized and subjected to nuclear forensic analysis. Physical and chemical characterization methods were used before and after source dismantling. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) proved to be most useful for initial analysis of the source. Dissolution of the Ra-Be capsule was followed with elemental analysis by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (AES) and Mass Spectrometry (MS). Model age determination by ICP-MS (81.6 y ± 4.08) was found to be sensitive to insufficient accuracy in measuring daughters present in the parent solution.

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Fig. 1
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source as reproduced by X-ray radiography

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source model age, determined by theoretical subtraction of 210Pb or 210Po content

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Analytical Chemistry Department, Nuclear Research Center Negev (NRCN), P.O.Box 9001, 8419001, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Eyal Elish, Amiram Moyal, Maor Assulin, Yehuda Nawi, Oren Solomon, Arnon Rubinshtein & Boaz Astrachan

  2. Radiation Protection Division, Soreq Nuclear Research Center (SNRC), 8180000, Yavne, Israel

    Michal Brandis, Gustavo Haquin, Itzhak Hershko, Zohar Yungrais & Ofer Aviv

  3. Geochemistry and Isotope Labs Supervisor, The Geological Survey of Israel (GSI), 32 Yeshaayahu Leibowitz St., 9692100, Jerusalem, Israel

    Yevgeni Zakon

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  1. Eyal Elish
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  2. Michal Brandis
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Correspondence to Eyal Elish.

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Elish, E., Brandis, M., Haquin, G. et al. Characterization of an orphan Ra–Be neutron source. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 329, 51–60 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07798-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-021-07798-6

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