Application of a coaxial hpge detector and fram code for determining the enrichment of shielded uranium samples

Abstract

The determination of uranium enrichment is a critical aspect of nuclear material control, essential for assessing potential safety threats and detecting unauthorized material transfers. Gamma spectrometry using a High-Purity Germanium detector offers a non-destructive method for isotope ratio analysis. However, standard equipment often lacks precision, particularly when samples are shielded. This study aims to evaluate the capability of a portable coaxial High-Purity Germanium detector in conjunction with the FRAM software for determining uranium enrichment under both shielded and unshielded conditions. To achieve this goal, a series of gamma spectrometric measurements was performed on fuel rod samples with low uranium content. The results demonstrated that the method provides reliable and rapid enrichment estimation with an error margin of up to 10%, which is particularly significant for nuclear forensics, where timely and accurate isotope analysis is crucial.