Mössbauer spectroscopy of237Np in solid solutions of actinide dioxides

Emission Mössbauer (nuclear gamma-resonance) spectra of²³⁷Np resulting from the alpha-decay of²⁴¹Am in solid solutions AmO₂–ThO₂ and AmO₂–UO₂ prepared by precipitation from LiF–NaF eutectic melts under fluorine-oxygen exchange were first investigated in the temperature range from 77 to 296 K. The resonant absorbers are NpO₂ and NpAl₂. The possibility is stated of managing the form of the emission Mössbauer spectra of²³⁷Np in dioxides by the directed change of the matrix stoichiometry or by its irradiation by visible light. At temperatures from 77 to 230 K the authors measured for the first time the NGR absorption spectra of²³⁷Np in solid solution NpO₂–ThO₂ with various concentrations of neptunium dioxide. An increase of the absorption line width (approximately by a factor of 4) with a decrease in the NpO₂ contents (to 10 mol.%) was explained by the influence of fast electron exchange between Np⁴⁺ and Np⁵⁺ states observed in the NpO₂–ThO₂ solid solution at low concentrations of neptunium dioxide.