Heavy Isotope Abundances in Mike Thermonuclear Device

Diamond, H.; Fields, P. R.; STEVENS, C. S.; Studier, Martin H.; Fried, S.; Inghram, Mark G.; Hess, David C.; Pyle, G. L.; Mech, J. F.; Manning, Winston M.; Ghiorso, A.; Thompson, S.G.; Higgins, George E.; Seaborg, Glenn T.; Browne, C.I.; Smith, Harold L.; Spence, R. W.

doi:10.1103/physrev.119.2000

Cited by 137 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(3 reference statements)

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“…at Enewetak (Diamond et al, 1960). However, when averaged over all the weapons tests, the global integrated fallout 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratio in environmental samples is about 0.18 (Kelley et al, 1999;Krey et al, 1976).…”

Section: Isotopic Ratios and Source Provenancementioning

confidence: 98%

Plutonium in groundwater at the 100K-Area of the U.S. DOE Hanford Site

Dai

Buesseler

Pike

2005

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

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We examined the concentration, size distribution, redox state and isotopic composition of plutonium (Pu) in groundwater at the 100K-Area at the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Hanford Site. Total concentrations of Pu isotopes were extremely low (10 -4 to 10 -6 pCi/kg, ≈ 10 4 to 10 6 atoms/kg), but measurable for the first time in the 100K-Area wells using mass spectrometric analyses that are much more sensitive than alpha spectroscopy methods used previously. Size fractionation data from two wells suggests that 7-29% of the Pu is associated with colloids, operationally defined here as particles between 1 kDa -0.2 µm in size. These colloids were collected using a 1 kDa cross-flow ultrafiltration system developed specifically for groundwater actinide studies to include careful controls both in the field and during processing to ensure in-situ geochemical conditions are maintained and size separations can be well characterized. Pu in this colloidal fraction was exclusively in the more reduced Pu(III/IV) form, consistent with the higher affinity of Pu for particle surfaces in the lower oxidation states. While the overall concentrations of Pu were low, the Pu isotopic composition suggests at least two local sources of groundwater Pu, namely local Hanford reactor operations at the 100K-Area, and spent nuclear fuel from the N reactor, which was stored in concrete pools at this site.Differences between this site and the Savannah River Site (SRS) are noted, since groundwater Pu at the F-Area seepage basin at SRS has been found using these same 2 methods, to be characterized by much lower colloidal abundances and higher oxidation states. This difference is not directly attributable to groundwater redox potential or geochemical conditions, but rather the physical-chemical difference in Pu sources, which at SRS appear to be dominated downstream from the seepage basins by decay of 244 Cm, resulting in more oxidized forms of 240 Pu. There is no clear evidence for colloid facilitated transport of Pu in groundwater at this site, since downstream wells have both an order of magnitude lower concentrations of Pu, but also a lower fractional colloidal distribution.

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Section: Isotopic Ratios and Source Provenancementioning

confidence: 98%

Plutonium in groundwater at the 100K-Area of the U.S. DOE Hanford Site

Dai

Buesseler

Pike

2005

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

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“…The difference of stellar impulse nucleosynthesis from the process of nuclei formation in N/TN explosion [2][3][4][5][6] is primarily in the time parameters of the process. The explosive N/TN-process has small duration time (t < 10 −6 s), that allows splitting it into two phases: neutron capturing process and the following decays of N-rich nuclei [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Transuranium isotopes (up to 255 Fm) ICPPA 2017 were first detected in the TN explosion "Mike" [2,3] in 1952. The most complete data on the yields of transuraniums up to A = 257 were obtained in "Par" experiment [4,5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nucleosynthesis of Heavy Elements in Thermonuclear Explosions 'Mike', 'Par' and 'Barbell'

Lutostansky¹,

Lyashuk²

2018

KEn

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“…(Hicks and Barr, 1984) and as high as 0.36 in the U.S. Mike shots in 1952 at Enewetak (Diamond et al, 1960). However, when averaged over all the weapons tests, the global integrated fallout 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratio in environmental samples is about 0.18 Krey et al, 1976).…”

Section: Isotopic Ratios and Source Provenancementioning

confidence: 99%