Characterization of 252Cf sources using high-resolution gamma spectroscopy

Highlights: • Demonstrate the use of high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy to characterize Cf-252 sources. • Calculate source age from spontaneous fission products and isotopic ratios from odd-numbered Cf isotopes. • Perform associated uncertainty analyses for source age and isotopic ratios. • Confirmation of source age and isotopic ratios from the technical data sheet. Californium-252 is used as a neutron calibration source for passive neutron correlation counting. Source age and isotopic information are needed to make decay corrections to the neutron emission rate due to the influence of ²⁵⁰Cf. Gamma-ray signatures present in the spectrum from spontaneous fission products and odd-numbered Cf isotopes can be used with high accuracy to confirm or query declared values on a technical data sheet. This method is good practice for independently verifying the content of ²⁵²Cf calibration sources.