Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Micro-electrodeposition techniques for the preparation of small actinide counting sources for ultra-high resolution alpha spectrometry by microcalorimetry

  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Special considerations and techniques are desired for the preparation of small actinide counting sources. Counting sources have been prepared on metal disk substrates (planchets) with an active area of only 0.079 mm2. This represents a 93.75% reduction in deposition area from standard electrodeposition methods. The actinide distribution upon the smaller planchet must remain thin and uniform to allow alpha particle emissions to escape the counting source with a minimal amount of self-attenuation. This work describes the development of micro-electrodeposition methods and optimization of the technique with respect to deposition time and current density for various planchet sizes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Horansky RD, Ullom JN, Beall JA, Hilton GC, Irwin KD et al (2008) Appl Phys Lett 93:123504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Horansky RD, Ullom JN, Beall JA, Hilton GC, Irwin KD et al (2008) J Low Temp Phys 151:1067

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ullom JN, Beall JA, Doriese WB, Duncan WD, Hilton GC et al (2008) Trans Am Nucl Soc 98:172

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ullom JN, Horansky RD, Beall JA, Doriese WB, Duncan WD et al (2007) IEEE Nucl Sci Symp Conf Rec 3:1630

    Google Scholar 

  5. Rabin MW, Hoover AS, Lamont SP, Rudy CR, Tournear DM et al (2006) Trans Am Nucl Soc 95:66

    Google Scholar 

  6. Plionis AA, Haas D, Landsberger S, Brooks G (2008) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 276:369

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Payne RF, Lamont SP, Filby RH, Glover SE (2001) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 248:449

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tsoupko-Sitnikov V, Dayras F, De Sanoit J, Filossofov D (2000) Appl Radiat Isot 52:357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee MH, Lee CW (2000) Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res A 447:593

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Glover SE, Filby RH, Clark SB, Grytdal SP (1998) J Radioanal Nucl Chem 234:213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries, USTUR-510, R.3 (2000) Analytical procedure manual: electrodeposition of americium, plutonium, uranium, and thorium

  12. Dos Santos LR, Sbampato ME, Dos Santos AM (2004) J Radional Nucl Chem 261:203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and funding for this research provided by the NNSA Office of Non-Proliferation Research and Development (NA-22), the Los Alamos National Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD), and the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    A. A. Plionis, J. H. Rim, E. P. Hastings, S. P. LaMont, D. E. Dry, M. K. Bacrania & M. W. Rabin

  2. National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway MS 817.03, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA

    R. D. Horansky, J. N. Ullom & J. A. Beall

  3. Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA

    J. H. Rim

Authors
  1. A. A. Plionis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. H. Rim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. P. Hastings
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. P. LaMont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. E. Dry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. K. Bacrania
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. D. Horansky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. J. N. Ullom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. J. A. Beall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. M. W. Rabin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. A. Plionis.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Plionis, A.A., Rim, J.H., Hastings, E.P. et al. Micro-electrodeposition techniques for the preparation of small actinide counting sources for ultra-high resolution alpha spectrometry by microcalorimetry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 282, 905–908 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0251-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-009-0251-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation