Structure and Bonding Investigation of Plutonium Peroxocarbonate Complexes Using Cerium Surrogates and Electronic Structure Modeling.

Herein, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of K[(CO)Pu](μ-η-η-O)·12HO. This is the second Pu-containing addition to the previously studied alkali-metal peroxocarbonate series M[(CO)A](μ-η-η-O)·xHO (M = alkali metal; A = Ce or Pu; x = 8, 10, 12, or 18), for which only the M = Na analogue has been previously reported when A = Pu. The previously reported crystal structure for Na[(CO)Pu](μ-η-η-O)·12HO is not isomorphous with its known Ce analogue.

PRex: An Experiment to Investigate Detection of Near-field Particulate Deposition from a Simulated Underground Nuclear Weapons Test Vent.

A radioactive particulate release experiment to produce a near-field ground deposition representative of small-scale venting from an underground nuclear test was conducted to gather data in support of treaty capability development activities. For this experiment, a CO2-driven "air cannon" was used to inject (140)La, a radioisotope of lanthanum with 1.7-d half-life and strong gamma-ray emissions, into the lowest levels of the atmosphere at ambient temperatures.

Using Atmospheric Dispersion Theory to Inform the Design of a Short-lived Radioactive Particle Release Experiment.

Atmospheric dispersion theory can be used to predict ground deposition of particulates downwind of a radionuclide release. This paper uses standard formulations found in Gaussian plume models to inform the design of an experimental release of short-lived radioactive particles into the atmosphere. Specifically, a source depletion algorithm is used to determine the optimum particle size and release height that maximizes the near-field deposition while minimizing both the required source activity and the fraction of activity lost to long-distance transport.