Chapter 4: Application of plutonium radiochronometry to understand material processing impacts for nuclear forensics

Radiochronometry is a key measurement aimed to determine the model age of an unknown sample for nuclear forensics. Analysis of decay products in materials of known provenance is crucial to allow us to confidently assess how fuel cycle processes impact forensic signatures. Measurement of multiple chronometers allows for a nuanced sample history to be interpreted. In this work we apply our analytical capabilities to two materials of known provenance to further validate our understanding specifically aiming to understand wet chemistry, feedstock blending and the impacts of thermal processing on plutonium samples. In addition to the actinide decay progeny measurements, the ⁴He chronometer is shown to have utility for materials with complex processing histories.