Electro-optical detection of uranium-238 decay products in the atmosphere. LIDAR remote sensing techniques are studied to determine effectiveness in detecting uranium ore. Final report February 1976-January 1978
This study was conducted in two phases. The first phase dealt with theoretical calculations of expected detection sensitivities using LIDAR remote sensing techniques to measure airborne daughter products of 238U. The most promising species for this technique were found to be 214Bi and 210 Pb, with effective photon scattering cross sections of 3.5 time 10 to the -17th power sq cm. and 8 time 10 to the -15th power sq cm. respectively. The theoretical calculations regarding system sensitivity were based on approximate calculations of the appropriate transition probabilities and estimates of the effects of atmospheric fluorescent quenching. Phase two consisted of experimental measurements of the total effective photon scattering cross sections and the effects of quenching by various atmospheric gases. Results of these measurements indicated that the calculated transition probabilities and effective scattering cross sections, exclusive of quenching, were in reasonable agreement with measured values. However, results of the quenching measurements showed that the original theoretical estimates had underestimated the effects of quenching by more than an order of magnitude. Calculations of expected LIDAR system performance based on the experimentally measured quantities showed that, although the system would be very sensitive by normal standards (1 part in 10 to the 18th power at a range of 180 m), it would still be inadequate to the needs of an aerial survey search for 238U ore deposits. (Author)
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Davis (USA). Dept. of Land, Air, and Water Resources
- OSTI ID:
- 6152612
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-057797
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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050200* - Nuclear Fuels- Exploration- (-1987)