Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis to Retrospectively Determine Production History of Plutonium Dioxide

Abstract

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements in the shortwave infrared (930–1600 nm) spectral region were acquired for Pu2(C2O4)3•9H2O and its thermal decomposition product, PuO2. We analyzed a total of eight PuO2 samples that were produced at different calcination temperatures (300, 350, 450, 525, 600, 675, 750, and 900 °C). Our goal was to identify spectroscopic fingerprints that could be used to gain retrospective information regarding the production parameters of these important nuclear compounds. The diffuse reflectance spectrum of Pu2(C2O4)3•9H2O features several broad bands that currently preclude detailed analysis. However, all PuO2 samples produced relatively sharp spectral features that got sharper and more intense for samples that were produced at higher calcination temperatures. The electronic band observed at 1433 nm in the diffuse reflectance spectra of PuO2 was found to be a sensitive indicator of crystallinity; a result that is corroborated by ancillary Raman spectroscopy measurements. Principal component analysis of diffuse reflectance spectra was able to clearly rank and categorize PuO2 samples based on the calcination temperature that was employed during their production. Thus, we show herein that important retrospective information pertaining to the process history of PuO2 can be gained through the relatively simplistic combination of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and principal component analysis. This discovery presents a new method for determining the provenance and process history of PuO2 and should have an impact in the fields of nuclear forensics and nuclear nonproliferation.