Improved determination of plutonium content and isotopic ratios in low activity samples by α-particle and underground L X-ray measurement

The determination of the isotopic ratio of 239Pu and 240Pu by α-particle spectrometry is limited due to the small differences in the α-particle energies. But taking into account the differences in the L X-ray emission probabilities of the two plutonium isotopes, an additional L X-ray measurement allows the isotopic ratio of 239Pu and 240Pu to be determined. The sensitivity of this method can be improved, as described in this work, by performing the L X-ray measurement in an underground laboratory.