Reactor decay heat in 239Pu: solving the γ discrepancy in the 4-3000-s cooling period.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2010;
105:202501. [PMID:
21231223 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.105.202501]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The β feeding probability of (102,104,105,106,107)Tc, 105Mo, and 101Nb nuclei, which are important contributors to the decay heat in nuclear reactors, has been measured using the total absorption technique. We have coupled for the first time a total absorption spectrometer to a Penning trap in order to obtain sources of very high isobaric purity. Our results solve a significant part of a long-standing discrepancy in the γ component of the decay heat for 239Pu in the 4-3000 s range.
Collapse