Title :
High Resolution Alpha Particle Spectroscopy with Cryogenic Microcalorimeters
Author :
Ullom, J.N. ; Horansky, R.D. ; Beall, J.A. ; Doriese, W.B. ; Duncan, W.D. ; Ferreira, L. ; Hilton, G.C. ; Irwin, K.D. ; Reintsema, C.D. ; Vale, L. ; Rabin, M.W. ; Hoover, A.S. ; Lamont, S.P. ; Rudy, C.R.
Author_Institution :
National Inst. of Stand. & Technol., Boulder, CO
fDate :
Oct. 29 2006-Nov. 1 2006
Abstract :
We present measurements from a novel cryogenic microcalorimeter designed to detect alpha particles. We demonstrate a spectral resolution of 4.4 keV FWHM for 5.3 MeV alpha particles from a 210Po source. In addition, we present an alpha spectrum from a mixture of Pu isotopes demonstrating the feasibility of resolving the individual contributions of 239Pu and 240Pu. The unmatched resolution of microcalorimeter alpha detectors will provide new capabilities for actinide analysis. We discuss potential applications and also sensor design.
Keywords :
alpha-particle detection; alpha-particle spectroscopy; calorimeters; plutonium; polonium; 210Po; 239Pu; 240Pu; actinide analysis; alpha particle detection; cryogenic microcalorimeters; high resolution alpha particle spectroscopy; microcalorimeter alpha detectors; Alpha particles; Cryogenics; Detectors; Energy resolution; Fluctuations; Isotopes; NIST; Silicon; Spectroscopy; Temperature sensors; alpha spectroscopy; microcalorimeter; nuclear forensics;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 2006. IEEE
Conference_Location :
San Diego, CA
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0560-2
Electronic_ISBN :
1095-7863
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.2006.354209
