Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach

Willingham, David; Naes, Benjamin E.; Heasler, Patrick G.; Zimmer, Mindy M.; Barrett, Christopher A.; Shane Addleman, R.

doi:10.1116/1.4940150

Image segmentation for uranium isotopic analysis by SIMS: Combined adaptive thresholding and marker controlled watershed approach

Journal Article · Fri Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4940150· OSTI ID:1421115

Willingham, David; Naes, Benjamin E.; Heasler, Patrick G.; Zimmer, Mindy M.; Barrett, Christopher A.; Shane Addleman, R.

A novel approach to particle identification and particle isotope ratio determination has been developed for nuclear safeguard applications. This particle search approach combines an adaptive thresholding algorithm and marker-controlled watershed segmentation (MCWS) transform, which improves the secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) isotopic analysis of uranium containing particle populations for nuclear safeguards applications. The Niblack assisted MCWS approach (a.k.a. Seeker) developed for this work has improved the identification of isotopically unique uranium particles under conditions that have historically presented significant challenges for SIMS image data processing techniques. Particles obtained from five National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) uranium certified reference materials (CRM U129A, U015, U150, U500, and U850) were successfully identified in regions of SIMS image data (1) where a high variability in image intensity existed, (2) where particles were touching or were in close proximity to one another, and/or (3) where the magnitude of ion signal for a given region was count limited. Analysis of the isotopic distributions of uranium containing particles identified by Seeker showed four distinct, accurately identified 235U enrichment distributions, corresponding to the NIST certified 235U/238U isotope ratios for CRM U129A/U015 (not statistically differentiated), U150, U500, and U850. Additionally, comparison of the minor uranium isotope (234U, 235U, and 236U) atom percent values verified that, even in the absence of high precision isotope ratio measurements, Seeker could be used to segment isotopically unique uranium particles from SIMS image data. Although demonstrated specifically for SIMS analysis of uranium containing particles for nuclear safeguards, Seeker has application in addressing a broad set of image processing challenges.

View Accepted Manuscript (Publisher)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation

OSTI ID:: 1421115

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1306757

Journal Information:: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, Journal Name: Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 34; ISSN 2166-2746

Publisher:: American Vacuum SocietyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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