Preparation of Radio-Sm by Neutron Activation for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Field measurement of isotopic ratios may be used to fingerprint an element\u27s origin, be it from commercial power, industrial, medical or historical weapons fallout. Samples of samarium radionuclides were prepared by neutron activation for subsequent analysis using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). High purity samarium (III) oxide powder was irradiated in the University of Texas at Austin TRIGA reactor to a total neutron fluence of 5 x 1015 cm-2. An initial determination of the isotopic ratios was made using activation calculations with a BURN card in an MCNPX-based model of the TRIGA core. Experimental validation of the MCNP results was achieved by analyzing gamma spectra of the irradiated oxide powers after irradiation. Subsequent measurement of 151Sm will be conducted at the CAMS facility at LLNL demonstrating the first measurement of this isotope at this facility