Gamma and Decay Energy Spectroscopy Measurements of Trinitite

TL;DR

This study employs gamma spectroscopy and decay energy spectroscopy to analyze trinitite samples, providing new isotopic composition data and comparing results across different detonation sites for forensic insights.

Contribution

It introduces decay energy spectroscopy as a novel method for isotopic analysis of trinitite, complementing traditional forensic techniques.

Findings

First isotopic composition measurements of trinitite using DES

Comparison of measurements across different detonation sites

Validation of DES as a forensic tool for nuclear debris analysis

Abstract

We report gamma ray spectroscopy measurements of trinitite samples and analogous samples obtained from detonation sites in Nevada and Semipalatinsk, as well as in situ measurements of topsoil at the Trinity site. We also report the first isotopic composition measurements of trinitite using the novel forensics technique of decay energy spectroscopy (DES) as a complement to traditional forensics techniques. Our measurements are compared to other published results.