Radioactivity in Trinitite Daniela Pittauerová1; William M
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2012 04 Newsletter
United States Atmospheric & Underwater Atomic Weapon Activities National Association of Atomic Veterans, Inc. 1945 “TRINITY“ “Assisting America’s Atomic Veterans Since 1979” ALAMOGORDO, N. M. Website: www.naav.com E-mail: [email protected] 1945 “LITTLE BOY“ HIROSHIMA, JAPAN R. J. RITTER - Editor April, 2012 1945 “FAT MAN“ NAGASAKI, JAPAN 1946 “CROSSROADS“ BIKINI ISLAND 1948 “SANDSTONE“ ENEWETAK ATOLL 1951 “RANGER“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1951 “GREENHOUSE“ ENEWETAK ATOLL 1951 “BUSTER – JANGLE“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1952 “TUMBLER - SNAPPER“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1952 “IVY“ ENEWETAK ATOLL 1953 “UPSHOT - KNOTHOLE“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1954 “CASTLE“ BIKINI ISLAND 1955 “TEAPOT“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1955 “WIGWAM“ OFFSHORE SAN DIEGO 1955 “PROJECT 56“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1956 “REDWING“ ENEWETAK & BIKINI 1957 “PLUMBOB“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1958 “HARDTACK-I“ ENEWETAK & BIKINI 1958 “NEWSREEL“ JOHNSTON ISLAND 1958 “ARGUS“ SOUTH ATLANTIC 1958 “HARDTACK-II“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1961 “NOUGAT“ NEVADA TEST SITE 1962 “DOMINIC-I“ CHRISTMAS ISLAND JOHNSTON ISLAND 1965 “FLINTLOCK“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA 1969 “MANDREL“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA 1971 “GROMMET“ AMCHITKA, ALASKA 1974 “POST TEST EVENTS“ ENEWETAK CLEANUP ------------ “ IF YOU WERE THERE, YOU ARE AN ATOMIC VETERAN “ The Newsletter for America’s Atomic Veterans COMMANDER’S COMMENTS knowing the seriousness of the situation, did not register any Outreach Update: First, let me extend our discomfort, or dissatisfaction on her part. As a matter of fact, it thanks to the membership and friends of NAAV was kind of nice to have some of those callers express their for supporting our “outreach” efforts over the thanks for her kind attention and assistance. We will continue past several years. It is that firm dedication to to insure that all inquires, along these lines, are fully and our Mission-Statement that has driven our adequately addressed. -
Nonproliferation and Nuclear Forensics: Detailed, Multi- Analytical Investigation of Trinitite Post-Detonation Materials
SIMONETTI ET AL. CHAPTER 14: NONPROLIFERATION AND NUCLEAR FORENSICS: DETAILED, MULTI- ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATION OF TRINITITE POST-DETONATION MATERIALS Antonio Simonetti, Jeremy J. Bellucci, Christine Wallace, Elizabeth Koeman, and Peter C. Burns, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46544, USA e-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION (and ≤7% 240Pu), whereas it is termed “reactor fuel In 2010, the Joint Working Group of the grade” if the material consists >8% 240Pu. American Physical Society and the American Production of enriched U is costly and an energy- Association for the Advancement of Science defined intensive process, and the most widely used Nuclear Forensics as “the technical means by which processes are gaseous diffusion of UF6 (employed nuclear materials, whether intercepted intact or by the United States and France) and high- retrieved from post-explosion debris, are performance centrifugation of UF6 (e.g., Russia, characterized (as to composition, physical condition, Europe, and South Africa). The uranium processed age, provenance, history) and interpreted (as to under the “Manhattan Project” and used within the provenance, industrial history, and implications for device detonated over Hiroshima was produced by nuclear device design).” Detailed investigation of electromagnetic separation; the latter process was post-detonation material (PDM) is critical in ultimately abandoned in the late 1940s because of preventing and/or responding to nuclear-based its significant energy demands. The minimum terrorist activities/threats. However, accurate amount of fissionable material required for a nuclear identification of nuclear device components within reaction is termed its “critical mass”, and the value PDM typically requires a variety of instrumental depends on the isotope employed, properties of approaches and sample characterization strategies; materials, local environment, and weapon design the latter may include radiochemical separations, (Moody et al. -
Bellucci Et Al. 2016 Trinitite Revised V Final
1 Direct Pb isotopic analysis of a nuclear fallout debris particle from the 2 Trinity nuclear test 3 4 5 Jeremy J. Bellucci1*, Joshua F. Snape1, Martin W. Whitehouse1, Alexander A. Nemchin1,2 6 7 *Corresponding author, email address: [email protected] 8 9 1Department of Geosciences, Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE-104 05 10 Stockholm, Sweden 11 2 Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia 12 13 Abstract 14 15 The Pb isotope composition of a nuclear fallout debris particle has been directly 16 measured in post-detonation materials produced during the Trinity nuclear test by a 17 secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) scanning ion image technique (SII). This 18 technique permits the visual assessment of the spatial distribution of Pb and can be used 19 to obtain full Pb isotope compositions in user-defined regions in a 70 µm x 70 µm 20 analytical window. In conjunction with BSE and EDS mapping of the same particle, the 21 Pb measured in this fallout particle cannot be from a major phase in the precursor arkosic 22 sand. Similarly, the Pb isotope composition of the particle is resolvable from the 23 surrounding glass at the 2σ uncertainty level. The Pb isotope composition measured in 24 the particle here is in excellent agreement with that inferred from measurements of green 25 and red trinitite, suggesting that these types of particles are responsible for the Pb isotope 26 compositions measured in both trinitite glasses. 27 28 29 Keywords: 30 31 Trinitite, Trinity Test, Post Detonation Nuclear Forensics, Pb isotopes, SIMS, Scanning 32 Ion Imaging, Fallout Debris, Forensics 33 34 35 Introduction 36 37 In the event of a non-state sanctioned nuclear attack, forensic investigations will 38 be necessary to determine the provenance of the weapon and the materials used in 39 construction of the device. -
Trinity Scientific Firsts
TRINITY SCIENTIFIC FIRSTS THE TRINITY TEST was perhaps the greatest scientifi c experiment ever. Seventy-fi ve years ago, Los Alamos scientists and engineers from the U.S., Britain, and Canada changed the world. July 16, 1945 marks the entry into the Atomic Age. PLUTONIUM: THE BETHE-FEYNMAN FORMULA: Scientists confi rmed the newly discovered 239Pu has attractive nuclear Nobel Laureates Hans Bethe and Richard Feynman developed the physics fi ssion properties for an atomic weapon. They were able to discern which equation used to estimate the yield of a fi ssion weapon, building on earlier production path would be most effective based on nuclear chemistry, and work by Otto Frisch and Rudolf Peierls. The equation elegantly encapsulates separated plutonium from Hanford reactor fuel. essential physics involved in the nuclear explosion process. PRECISION HIGH-EXPLOSIVE IMPLOSION FOUNDATIONAL RADIOCHEMICAL TO CREATE A SUPER-CRITICAL ASSEMBLY: YIELD ANALYSIS: Project Y scientists developed simultaneously-exploding bridgewire detonators Wartime radiochemistry techniques developed and used at Trinity with a pioneering high-explosive lens system to create a symmetrically provide the foundation for subsequent analyses of nuclear detonations, convergent detonation wave to compress the core. both foreign and domestic. ADVANCED IMAGING TECHNIQUES: NEW FRONTIERS IN COMPUTING: Complementary diagnostics were developed to optimize the implosion Human computers and IBM punched-card machines together calculated design, including fl ash x-radiography, the RaLa method, -
Experimental Γ Ray Spectroscopy and Investigations of Environmental Radioactivity
Experimental γ Ray Spectroscopy and Investigations of Environmental Radioactivity BY RANDOLPH S. PETERSON 216 α Po 84 10.64h. 212 Pb 1- 415 82 0- 239 β- 01- 0 60.6m 212 1+ 1630 Bi 2+ 1513 83 α β- 2+ 787 304ns 0+ 0 212 α Po 84 Experimental γ Ray Spectroscopy and Investigations of Environmental Radioactivity Randolph S. Peterson Physics Department The University of the South Sewanee, Tennessee Published by Spectrum Techniques All Rights Reserved Copyright 1996 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction ....................................................................................................................4 Basic Gamma Spectroscopy 1. Energy Calibration ................................................................................................... 7 2. Gamma Spectra from Common Commercial Sources ........................................ 10 3. Detector Energy Resolution .................................................................................. 12 Interaction of Radiation with Matter 4. Compton Scattering............................................................................................... 14 5. Pair Production and Annihilation ........................................................................ 17 6. Absorption of Gammas by Materials ..................................................................... 19 7. X Rays ..................................................................................................................... 21 Radioactive Decay 8. Multichannel Scaling and Half-life ..................................................................... -
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2013) 298:993–1003 DOI 10.1007/s10967-013-2497-8 A multi-method approach for determination of radionuclide distribution in trinitite Christine Wallace • Jeremy J. Bellucci • Antonio Simonetti • Tim Hainley • Elizabeth C. Koeman • Peter C. Burns Received: 21 January 2013 / Published online: 13 April 2013 Ó Akade´miai Kiado´, Budapest, Hungary 2013 Abstract The spatial distribution of radiation within trin- The results from this study indicate that the device-related ititethinsectionshavebeenmappedusingalphatrack radionuclides were preferentially incorporated into the radiography and beta autoradiography in combination with glassy matrix in trinitite. optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Alpha and beta maps have identified areas of higher activity, Keywords Trinitite Á Nuclear forensics Á Radionuclides Á and these are concentrated predominantly within the surfi- Fission and activation products Á Laser ablation inductively cial glassy component of trinitite. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses conducted at high spatial resolution yield weighted average 235U/238Uand240Pu/239Pu ratios of 0.00718 ± 0.00018 (2r) Introduction and 0.0208 ± 0.0012 (2r), respectively, and also reveal the presence of some fission (137Cs) and activation products Nuclear proliferation and terrorism are arguably the gravest (152,154Eu). The LA-ICP-MS results indicate positive cor- of threats to the security of any nation. The ability to relations between Pu ion signal intensities and abundances decipher forensic signatures in post-detonation nuclear of Fe, Ca, U and 137Cs. These trends suggest that Pu in debris is essential, both to provide a deterrence and to trinitite is associated with remnants of certain chemical permit a response to an incident. -
Lightning Strikes As a Major Facilitator of Prebiotic Phosphorus Reduction on Early Earth ✉ Benjamin L
ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21849-2 OPEN Lightning strikes as a major facilitator of prebiotic phosphorus reduction on early Earth ✉ Benjamin L. Hess 1,2,3 , Sandra Piazolo 2 & Jason Harvey2 When hydrated, phosphides such as the mineral schreibersite, (Fe,Ni)3P, allow for the synthesis of important phosphorus-bearing organic compounds. Such phosphides are com- mon accessory minerals in meteorites; consequently, meteorites are proposed to be a main 1234567890():,; source of prebiotic reactive phosphorus on early Earth. Here, we propose an alternative source for widespread phosphorus reduction, arguing that lightning strikes on early Earth potentially formed 10–1000 kg of phosphide and 100–10,000 kg of phosphite and hypo- phosphite annually. Therefore, lightning could have been a significant source of prebiotic, reactive phosphorus which would have been concentrated on landmasses in tropical regions. Lightning strikes could likewise provide a continual source of prebiotic reactive phosphorus independent of meteorite flux on other Earth-like planets, potentially facilitating the emer- gence of terrestrial life indefinitely. 1 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. 2 School of Earth and Environment, Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. 3 Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL, USA. ✉ email: [email protected] NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | (2021) 12:1535 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21849-2 | www.nature.com/naturecommunications 1 ARTICLE NATURE COMMUNICATIONS | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21849-2 ife on Earth likely originated by 3.5 Ga1 with carbon isotopic Levidence suggesting as early as 3.8–4.1 Ga2,3. -
A Detailed Geochemical Investigation of Post-Nuclear Detonation Trinitite Glass at High Spatial Resolution: Delineating Anthropogenic Vs
Chemical Geology 365 (2014) 69–86 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Chemical Geology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/chemgeo A detailed geochemical investigation of post-nuclear detonation trinitite glass at high spatial resolution: Delineating anthropogenic vs. natural components Jeremy J. Bellucci ⁎, Antonio Simonetti, Elizabeth C. Koeman, Christine Wallace, Peter C. Burns Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States article info abstract Article history: This study documents, for the first time, the combined abundances of major and trace elements at high spatial Received 24 March 2013 resolution for trinitite glass, which was produced during the first atomic weapon test (Trinity site; New Received in revised form 4 December 2013 Mexico, USA). The results indicate that the chemical composition of trinitite is largely dependent on the precursor Accepted 5 December 2013 mineral phases found in the arkosic sand at the Trinity site. The chemical compositions of trinitite were evaluated Available online 16 December 2013 using principal component analysis, which indicates that trends may be attributed to mixing between an anthro- Editor: L. Reisberg pogenic component and phases (both major and minor) within the arkosic sand. The resolvable anthropogenic component in trinitite is made up of metals including Al, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Mg, Mn, Nb, Pb, Ta, and Ti. Uranium Keywords: in trinitite appears to have two sources: natural U-bearing phases and the tamper used in the device. The concen- Nuclear forensics trations of volatile anthropogenic metals (Co, Cr, Cu, and Pb) are enriched in samples that originate from N74 m Trinity away from ground zero. -
The Russian-A(Merican) Bomb: the Role of Espionage in the Soviet Atomic Bomb Project
J. Undergrad. Sci. 3: 103-108 (Summer 1996) History of Science The Russian-A(merican) Bomb: The Role of Espionage in the Soviet Atomic Bomb Project MICHAEL I. SCHWARTZ physicists and project coordinators ought to be analyzed so as to achieve an understanding of the project itself, and given the circumstances and problems of the project, just how Introduction successful those scientists could have been. Third and fi- nally, the role that espionage played will be analyzed, in- There was no “Russian” atomic bomb. There only vestigating the various pieces of information handed over was an American one, masterfully discovered by by Soviet spies and its overall usefulness and contribution Soviet spies.”1 to the bomb project. This claim echoes a new theme in Russia regarding Soviet Nuclear Physics—Pre-World War II the Soviet atomic bomb project that has arisen since the democratic revolution of the 1990s. The release of the KGB As aforementioned, Paul Josephson believes that by (Commissariat for State Security) documents regarding the the eve of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, Soviet sci- role that espionage played in the Soviet atomic bomb project entists had the technical capability to embark upon an atom- has raised new questions about one of the most remark- ics weapons program. He cites the significant contributions able and rapid scientific developments in history. Despite made by Soviet physicists to the growing international study both the advanced state of Soviet nuclear physics in the of the nucleus, including the 1932 splitting of the lithium atom years leading up to World War II and reported scientific by proton bombardment,7 Igor Kurchatov’s 1935 discovery achievements of the actual Soviet atomic bomb project, of the isomerism of artificially radioactive atoms, and the strong evidence will be provided that suggests that the So- fact that L. -
Development of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass for Forensic Analysis
J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2015) 304:1293–1301 DOI 10.1007/s10967-015-3941-8 Development of synthetic nuclear melt glass for forensic analysis Joshua J. Molgaard • John D. Auxier II • Andrew V. Giminaro • C. J. Oldham • Matthew T. Cook • Stephen A. Young • Howard L. Hall Received: 12 February 2014 / Published online: 20 January 2015 Ó The Author(s) 2015. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract A method for producing synthetic debris simi- proliferation and nuclear terrorism is a continued and lar to the melt glass produced by nuclear surface testing is growing concern [1]. This threat has been recognized by demonstrated. Melt glass from the first nuclear weapon test congress and was the primary motivation for the passage of (commonly referred to as trinitite) is used as the benchmark the Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act [2]. This act for this study. These surrogates can be used to simulate a called for the development of a credible capability for variety of scenarios and will serve as a tool for developing identifying sources of nuclear material used in a terrorist and validating forensic analysis methods. act, and also acknowledged the challenge presented by the dwindling number of radiochemical programs and facilities Keywords Debris Á Nuclear weapons Á Nuclear in the United States. forensics Á Trinitite Á Melt glass Á Morphology The Radiochemistry Center of Excellence (RCoE) established at the University of Tennessee (UT) by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) seeks to Introduction partially fill the academic gap and meet the challenges identified in the Nuclear Forensics Attribution Act. -
Trinity Site July 16, 1945
Trinity Site July 16, 1945 "The effects could well be called unprecedented, magnificent, beauti ful, stupendous, and terrifying. No man-made phenomenon of such tremendous power had ever occurred before. The lighting effects beggared description. The whole country was lighted by a searing light with the intensity many times that of the midday sun." Brig. Gen. Thomas Farrell A national historic landmark on White Sands Missile Range -- www.wsmr.army.mil Radiation Basics Radiation comes from the nucJeus of the gamma ray. This is a type of electromag individual atoms. Simple atoms like oxygen netic radiation like visible light, radio waves are very stable. Its nucleus has eight protons and X-rays. They travel at the speed of light. and eight neutrons and holds together well. It takes at least an inch of lead or eight The nucJeus of a complex atom like inches of concrete to stop them. uranium is not as stable. Uranium has 92 Finally, neutrons are also emitted by protons and 146 neutrons in its core. These some radioactive substances. Neutrons are unstable atoms tend to break down into very penetrating but are not as common in more stable, simpler forms. When this nature. Neutrons have the capability of happens the atom emits subatomic particles striking the nucleus of another atom and and gamma rays. This is where the word changing a stable atom into an unstable, and "radiation" comes from -- the atom radiates therefore, radioactive one. Neutrons emitted particles and rays. in nuc!ear reactors are contained in the Health physicists are concerned with reactor vessel or shielding and cause the four emissions from the nucleus of these vessel walls to become radioactive. -
Magnox Corrosion
Department Of Materials Science & Engineering From Magnox to Chernobyl: A report on clearing-up problematic nuclear wastes Sean T. Barlow BSc (Hons) AMInstP Department of Materials Science & Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, UK IOP Nuclear Industry Group, September 28 | Warrington, Cheshire, UK Department Of Materials Science & Engineering About me… 2010-2013: Graduated from University of Salford - BSc Physics (Hons) Department Of Materials Science & Engineering About me… 2013-2018: Started on Nuclear Fission Research Science and Technology (FiRST) at the University of Sheffield Member of the Immobilisation Science Laboratory (ISL) group • Wasteforms cement, glass & ceramic • Characterisation of materials (Trinitite/Chernobylite) • Corrosion science (steels) Department Of Materials Science & Engineering Department Of Materials Science & Engineering Fully funded project based PhD with possibility to go on secondment • 3-4 month taught course at Manchester • 2 mini-projects in Sheffield • 3 years for PhD + 1 year write up • Funding available for conferences and training • Lots of outreach work • Site visits to Sellafield reprocessing facility, Heysham nuclear power station & Atomic Weapons Authority Department Of Materials Science & Engineering Fully funded project based PhD with possibility to go on secondment • 3-4 month taught course at Manchester • 2 mini-projects in Sheffield • 3 years for PhD + 1 year write up • Funding available for conferences and training • Lots of outreach work • Site visits to Sellafield reprocessing facility, Heysham nuclear power station & Atomic Weapons Authority Department Of Materials Science & Engineering Department Of Materials Science & Engineering 2017: Junior Project Manager at DavyMarkham Department Of Materials Science & Engineering PhD projects… 4 main projects 1. Magnox waste immobilisation in glass 2.