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Title: Trace determination of {sup 90}Sr and {sup 89}Sr in environmental samples by collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.47620· OSTI ID:21153699

Collinear resonance ionization spectroscopy has been developed as a sensitive technique for fast trace detection of {sup 90}Sr and {sup 89}Sr in the environment. A detection limit for {sup 90}Sr of 10{sup 7} atoms in the presence of 10{sup 17} atoms in the presence of 10{sup 17} atoms of stable Strontium has been achieved, while the applicability of the method has been demonstrated on real world samples. After collection and chemical separation, strontium is surface ionized, accelerated to 33keV and mass separated. The ions are neutralized and the emerging fast atoms interact with an argon ion laser beam ({gamma}=364 nm) in a quasi-collinear geometry. Optical excitation starts from the long-lived 5s4d{sup 3} D2 state of strontium, which is populated in the charge exchange process, and the fast atoms are selectively excited into the high-lying 5s23f{sup 3}F3 Rydberg state. The Rydberg-atoms are subsequently field-ionized and detected by a channeltron detector after energy selection. The described method was successfully used to determine the {sup 90}Sr-content in air samples collected near Munich during the Chernobyl reactor accident in April 1986.

OSTI ID:
21153699
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 329, Issue 1; Conference: 7. international symposium on resonance ionization spectroscopy, Bernkastel-Kues (Germany), 3-8 Jul 1994; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.47620; (c) 1995 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English