>Magister Scientiae - MSc / High spin excited stats in¹⁹²Tl were studied using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The study included taking an active part in performing the experiment, understanding the experimental procedure, electronics and data acquisition in this experiment. The high spin states in ¹⁹²Tl were produced using a ³⁷Cl beam and ¹⁶⁰Gd target. The nine clovers of the AFRODITE array were placed at 90° and 135°. The target was thin, allowing the residual thallium nuclei to recoil in vacuum. Two weeks of data was acquired and analysed in this work. In addition more data was acquired in order to perform DSAM lifetime measurements, but this is beyond the scope of this work. The preliminary data analysis of the thin target data involved energy and time-gain matching calibrations as well as Doppler shift and gain drift corrections. Then the data were sorted into matrices and spectra for the actual analysis. The known level scheme of ¹⁹²Tl was extended by more than 50 new transitions placed in three new bands. A chiral partner to the yrast band in ¹⁹²92Tl was searched for but not found. But there is still a possibility such a band to be discovered, when the additional three weekends of data (including the DSAM lifetime measurements) undergo such an analysis.

This project aims to improve research in gamma-ray spectroscopy by using advanced detector systems. These systems are designed to reduce interference inherent in gamma-ray spectroscopy by rejecting Compton scattering events from high-energy gamma-rays, as well as look at cascading decays of gamma-rays through gamma-gamma coincidence counting. By combining these methods, one is able to lower detection limits for many elements than would otherwise be possible. This work also takes advantage of neutron activation analysis, which allows stable elements to be analyzed by activating them with neutrons, causing them to become unstable and decay with radioactive signatures. By analyzing these signatures, one is able to detect trace levels of elements with relatively small samples sizes (< 1g) and in a nondestructive manner. / text

A high-efficiency gamma-ray counting system has been built at Los Alamos National Laboratory for use in analyzing nuclear forensics samples. This system consists of two clover high-purity germanium detectors and is surrounded by a thallium-doped sodium iodide annulus. Special precautions have been taken to ensure the system has a low background. The system is connected to XIA Pixie-4 fast digitizers and collects data in list-mode. This work is split into two main parts. The first part describes the proper steps and techniques to initialize the settings of a detector system connected to fast digitizers in order to optimize the system for resolution and throughput. The various counting modes for this particular system are described in detail, including the benefits and drawbacks of each mode. Steps are then shown to characterize the system by obtaining efficiency curves for various counting modes and sample geometries. Because of the close counting geometry involved with this system, true-coincidence summing factors must be calculated, and are done so in part by measuring the peak-to-total ratios of the system in its various counting modes across a wide energy range. The dead-time for the system can be complicated due to the multiple inputs of the system. Techniques for calculating the dead-time of multiple-detector systems are discussed. The second part of this work shows the system's usefulness in analyzing nuclear forensics samples, specifically irradiated enriched uranium. Three fission product parent-daughter pairs of different lifetimes are analyzed over a course of six months. The activities of each nuclide are calculated at each time step. Age dating techniques using the parent-daughter pairs are discussed, as well as the detection limits of each nuclide for a range of sample ages. Finally, avenues for further research are presented, as well as potential sources of error or uncertainty for this work. / text

The nuclides present in spent nuclear fuel are categorized according to their capacity for detection by Compton suppression or gamma-gamma coincidence methods. The fifty nuclides with the highest activities in spent fuel are identified, their decay schemes analyzed, and the best detection scheme for each is recommended. / text