New Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry Scheme for Improved Uranium Analysis

Savina, Michael R.; Trappitsch, Reto; Kucher, Andrew; Isselhardt, Brett H.

doi:10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02656

Title: New Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry Scheme for Improved Uranium Analysis

Journal Article · 21 July 2018 · Analytical Chemistry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.8b02656 · OSTI ID:1497286

^[1]; Trappitsch, Reto ^[1]; Kucher, Andrew ^[1]; Isselhardt, Brett H. ^[1]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division

Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) combines tunable laser spectroscopy with mass spectrometry to provide here a high-efficiency means of analyzing solid materials. We previously showed a very high useful yield of 24% for analysis of uranium using three lasers to excite and ionize atoms sputtered from metallic uranium and uranium dioxide. A new resonance ionization scheme using only two lasers achieves a higher useful yield of 38% by accessing both the ground electronic state and a low-lying electronic state of atomic uranium that is significantly populated by sputtering. The major loss channel in analyzing uranium dioxide is the formation of UOx molecules during sputtering. Prebombardment of the surface with 3 keV noble gas ions prior to analysis reduces the surface and results in a sputtered flux with a greatly enhanced proportion of atomic U. This method of surface reduction results in uranium useful yields as high as 6.6% for uranium dioxide analysis, compared to 2% from previous work.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) (United States); Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) (United States); LLNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (NA-20)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1497286

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL--752818; 938294

Journal Information:: Analytical Chemistry, Journal Name: Analytical Chemistry Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 90; ISSN 0003-2700

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Time-resolved imaging of atoms and molecules in laser-produced uranium plasmas Kautz, E. J.; Skrodzki, P. J.; Burger, M. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 34, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ja00228f	journal	January 2019

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