PLATAN 2024 - Merger of the Poznan Meeting on Lasers and Trapping Devices in Atomic Nuclei Research and the International Conference on Laser Probing

Ultra-trace analysis of radionuclides with laser ionization mass spectrometry

12 Jun 2024, 12:10

20m

A102 (Agora, University of Jyväskylä, Finland)

Oral Presentation Plenary

Speaker

Paul Hanemann

Description

Resonant laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry (rL-SNMS) combines the spatial resolution traditional ToF-SIMS with the elemental selectivity of resonant laser ionisation. This quasi non-destructive method is an ideal choice for the analyses of micron sized fragments of nuclear fuel, so called “hot particles” from the Chornobyl exclusion zone [1]. With this method actinides in single radioactive can be detected, down to E7 atoms of a single isotope [2]. The relative 238Pu content of the particles can be determined by suppressing the dominant 238U in spent fuel. The isotopic fingerprint of these particles allows to links them to the nuclear accident as well as identifying particles with unusual isotope ratios. The current capabilities of the RIMS-system are presented in this talk, with an outlook on further developments of the method and application to ultra-trace analysis.

[1] DOI:10.1039/9781837670758-00001
[2] DOI:10.1126/sciabv.abj1175