Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a groundbreaking technique that can simultaneously detect uranium isotopes and fluorine in a single particle, a significant advancement in nuclear nonproliferation monitoring.
All aspects of Nuclear Forensics under one roof
The team of researchers, in a unique approach linking laser-induced breakup spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), have fused two fundamentally powerful methods into the first truly complication-insensitive tool for analyzing nuclear materials.
While the ICP-MS provides an accurate measure of the isotopic composition of uranium, LIBS rapidly screens samples for fluorine which is a key element of the uranium enrichment process. This integrated approach enables the rapid imaging and elemental analysis of individual particles, supporting the classification of incoming nuclear materials to IAEA inspectors in terms of attributing them with information about their use.
Revealing Secrets Of Isotopes
Isotopes are different forms of the same chemical element with the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons and are critical to understanding both chemical processes as well as dating materials. However, until now, analyzing isotopic ratios in individual particles has been a laborious process.
This would reduce the time for 40 about-red-blood-cell-sized particles to less than five minutes using their new method — that was a breakthrough. Reducing the time per particle for fluorine and uranium isotope detection is a game changer, which allows us to analyze fundamental nuclear processes and their sources.
Conclusion
Detecting uranium isotopes and fluorine in the same particle is a significant breakthrough for monitoring nuclear nonproliferation. The result is a highly useful device that correlates two detection and analysis methods facilitating effective characterization of nuclear materials, and readily available data, both to the IAEA inspectors and for enhancing our knowledge of nuclear processes by using LIBS in combination with ICP-MS applicability. In a testament to the widespread implications of this innovation, this novel method could be useful in several fields, ranging from next-generation battery fabrication and advanced nuclear reactor design to environmental science.
