TY - JOUR
T1 - Anthropogenic 244Pu in the environment
AU - Winkler, Stephan
AU - Ahmad, Irshad
AU - Golser, Robin
AU - Kutschera, Walter
AU - Orlandini, Kent A.
AU - Paul, Michael
AU - Priller, Alfred
AU - Steier, Peter
AU - Vockenhuber, Christof
N1 - Zeitschrift: New Astronomy Reviews
DOI: 10.1016/j.newar.2003.11.021
Coden: NAREF
Affiliations: Vienna Environ. Res. Accelerator, Inst. Isotopenforschung/Kernphysik, Universität Wien, Währinger Strasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, United States; Environmental Research Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, United States; Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904 Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Nuclear Physics, Research Sch. of Physical Sci./Eng., Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
Adressen: Winkler, S.; Department of Nuclear Physics; Research Sch. of Physical Sci./Eng.; Australian National University Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia; email: [email protected]
Import aus Scopus: 2-s2.0-0742285232
PY - 2004/2
Y1 - 2004/2
N2 - The presence of 244Pu (t1/2=81 Ma) in the early solar system is long established [Nature 187 (1960) 36; Science 172 (1971) 837]. 244Pu is also one of a number of isotopes which may be detectable as live radioactivity on earth, originating from the Interstellar Medium (ISM). There has been a recent attempt to measure a ISM isotope signature of 244Pu [ApJ 558 (2001) L133]. This rises the question of the presence of an anthropogenic contribution in the environment. In order to better assess the 244Pu fall-out on earth, we have started a program at VERA to measure 244Pu in surface sediments of Lake Michigan, routinely sampled for 239,240Pu measurements. Considerable amount of information on other isotopes exist for Lake Michigan. We have reproduced the expected 241Pu/239Pu and 240Pu/239Pu ratios for the global fallout. The measured 244Pu/239Pu was considerably higher than expected and was therefore most likely the result of contamination. Measurement of samples specifically prepared for the measurement of 244Pu will be tried in the future. Π2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
AB - The presence of 244Pu (t1/2=81 Ma) in the early solar system is long established [Nature 187 (1960) 36; Science 172 (1971) 837]. 244Pu is also one of a number of isotopes which may be detectable as live radioactivity on earth, originating from the Interstellar Medium (ISM). There has been a recent attempt to measure a ISM isotope signature of 244Pu [ApJ 558 (2001) L133]. This rises the question of the presence of an anthropogenic contribution in the environment. In order to better assess the 244Pu fall-out on earth, we have started a program at VERA to measure 244Pu in surface sediments of Lake Michigan, routinely sampled for 239,240Pu measurements. Considerable amount of information on other isotopes exist for Lake Michigan. We have reproduced the expected 241Pu/239Pu and 240Pu/239Pu ratios for the global fallout. The measured 244Pu/239Pu was considerably higher than expected and was therefore most likely the result of contamination. Measurement of samples specifically prepared for the measurement of 244Pu will be tried in the future. Π2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
U2 - 10.1016/j.newar.2003.11.021
DO - 10.1016/j.newar.2003.11.021
M3 - Article
VL - 48
SP - 151
EP - 154
JO - New Astronomy Reviews
JF - New Astronomy Reviews
SN - 1387-6473
IS - 1-4
ER -