Age-dating methodology for 137Cs ceramic sources

Age-dating of 137Cs ceramic sources is shown to be a viable technology for nuclear forensics investigations. The 137Cs age-dating method in general, however, could be substantially improved by using radiometric rather than ICP-MS measurement of the 137Cs isotope and by refining the Cs/Ba separation process. With these improvements, uncertainty in the age of a 60-year-old source decreases from 1.35 to 0.68 y.