Laser Ablation, Absorbance Ratio Spectrometry (LAARS) Assay Performance Study (FY2018 Annual Report)
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a long history of testing and using laser-based technologies for a variety of safeguards applications. Notable laser-based on-site applications include: 3-dimensional laser range (3DLR) instruments, used for facility design information and verification (DIV); laser measurements to verify unique labels and detect signs of tampering; and laser spectroscopy, for non-contact process monitoring. The IAEA is also evaluating analytical laboratory instruments, such as laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for interrogating individual particles to determine uranium isotopic ratios in collected environment samples. Recent laser technology advancements will continue to fuel future IAEA adoption of new and novel laser-based safeguards tools. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is developing one such tool, called the Laser Ablation, Absorbance Ratio Spectrometry (LAARS) technology, which is designed to provide high-fidelity 235U/238U isotope ratio measurements to support either on-site enrichment plant or off-site laboratory destructive assay (DA). Analyzing uranium hexafluoride (UF6) DA samples on-site by LAARS could provide early indication of discrepancies with operator declarations during physical inventory verifications, so that such discrepancies could be addressed immediately, rather than after off-site analysis is completed. The IAEA is also seeking on-site DA options, because sample shipping time can be long and evolving restrictions on radioactive/corrosive material shipments may increasingly limit the IAEA’s ability to easily transport UF6 samples. Routine on-site LAARS analysis could provide timely assay results and reduce the DA sample shipment inventory to just those needed for more definitive determination. A laboratory-based LAARS instrument could also provide rapid, cost-effective prescreening of selected DA samples shipped to the IAEA’s Nuclear Materials Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria. PNNL has also developed a complementary UF6 sampling technology and method, called the Single-Use Destructive Assay (SUDA) sampler to easily collect DA samples that are ideal for on-site analysis by LAARS. Combining the LAARS and SUDA sampler technologies could provide a powerful new on-site DA option for the IAEA.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 1695700
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-28071; TRN: US2204954
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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