Radioactinide additions to the electronic Gamma-ray Spectrum Catalogue

Abstract

With the completion of a CD ROM version of the original R. L. HEATH's Gamma-ray Spectrum Catalogue, it became obvious that a number of radionuclides are missing which are important to various fields of nuclear science and technology. With a large amount of transuranic waste awaiting permanent disposal across the Department of Energy (DOE) complex and the need for its assay in order to dispose of it, it was decided that the addition of the radioactinides encountered in transuranic waste should be the first priority. In response to this need, the spectra of 233U, 235U, 238U, 237Np, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, 242Pu, 241Am and 243Am have been acquired with modern Ge detectors, and prepared for graphics presentation along with the parent and progeny decay chains and decay schemes. The associated tables of γ-ray energies and emission probabilities have been downloaded from the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data file (ENSDF) database. This information is being incorporated into the Gamma-Ray Spectrometry Center Web Site at http://id.inel.gov/gamma