New measurement of the 238U decay constant with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry [New Measurement of the U-238 Decay Constant with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry]
Abstract
The 238U decay constant (λU-238) is fundamental to radioisotope-based chronometry in the Earth and planetary sciences, yet only a single published λU-238 value (Jaffey et al. in Phys Rev C 4(5):1889–1906, 1971) is widely applied. We have determined λU-238 via the novel approach of measuring of 234Th ingrowth in high-purity 238U solutions, using isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ID-MS). The 234Th decay constant (λTh-234) was measured via decay counting with high-purity Ge (HPGe) $$\gamma$$ detectors. Preliminary results for λU-238 agree with the value determined by $a$-counting [1] within the elevated uncertainty of 0.462% (k = 2). Ongoing efforts to reproduce λU-238 with reduced experimental uncertainties will inform future conclusions.
- Authors:
-
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Earth and Planetary Science; Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Berkeley Geochronology Center, Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1512607
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-752487
Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731; 938051
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 318; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0236-5731
- Publisher:
- Springer
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY; Uranium; Thorium; Half-life; Decay constant; Radiochronometry; Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Citation Formats
Parsons-Davis, Tashi, Wimpenny, Josh, Keller, C. Brenhin, Thomas, Keenan, Samperton, Kyle M., Renne, Paul R., Mundil, Roland, Moody, Ken, Knight, Kim, Kristo, Michael J., and Williams, Ross. New measurement of the 238U decay constant with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry [New Measurement of the U-238 Decay Constant with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry]. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1007/s10967-018-6148-y.
Parsons-Davis, Tashi, Wimpenny, Josh, Keller, C. Brenhin, Thomas, Keenan, Samperton, Kyle M., Renne, Paul R., Mundil, Roland, Moody, Ken, Knight, Kim, Kristo, Michael J., & Williams, Ross. New measurement of the 238U decay constant with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry [New Measurement of the U-238 Decay Constant with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry]. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6148-y
Parsons-Davis, Tashi, Wimpenny, Josh, Keller, C. Brenhin, Thomas, Keenan, Samperton, Kyle M., Renne, Paul R., Mundil, Roland, Moody, Ken, Knight, Kim, Kristo, Michael J., and Williams, Ross. Wed .
"New measurement of the 238U decay constant with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry [New Measurement of the U-238 Decay Constant with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry]". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6148-y. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1512607.
@article{osti_1512607,
title = {New measurement of the 238U decay constant with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry [New Measurement of the U-238 Decay Constant with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry]},
author = {Parsons-Davis, Tashi and Wimpenny, Josh and Keller, C. Brenhin and Thomas, Keenan and Samperton, Kyle M. and Renne, Paul R. and Mundil, Roland and Moody, Ken and Knight, Kim and Kristo, Michael J. and Williams, Ross},
abstractNote = {The 238U decay constant (λU-238) is fundamental to radioisotope-based chronometry in the Earth and planetary sciences, yet only a single published λU-238 value (Jaffey et al. in Phys Rev C 4(5):1889–1906, 1971) is widely applied. We have determined λU-238 via the novel approach of measuring of 234Th ingrowth in high-purity 238U solutions, using isotope dilution mass spectrometry (ID-MS). The 234Th decay constant (λTh-234) was measured via decay counting with high-purity Ge (HPGe) $\gamma$ detectors. Preliminary results for λU-238 agree with the value determined by $a$-counting [1] within the elevated uncertainty of 0.462% (k = 2). Ongoing efforts to reproduce λU-238 with reduced experimental uncertainties will inform future conclusions.},
doi = {10.1007/s10967-018-6148-y},
journal = {Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry},
number = 1,
volume = 318,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {8}
}
Web of Science
Works referenced in this record:
Decay constant errors in U–Pb concordia-intercept ages
journal, May 2000
- Ludwig, Kenneth R.
- Chemical Geology, Vol. 166, Issue 3-4
Precision Measurement of Half-Lives and Specific Activities of and
journal, November 1971
- Jaffey, A. H.; Flynn, K. F.; Glendenin, L. E.
- Physical Review C, Vol. 4, Issue 5
IUPAC-IUGS status report on the half-lives of 238U, 235U and 234U
journal, January 2016
- Villa, I. M.; Bonardi, M. L.; De Bièvre, P.
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 172
Joint determination of 40K decay constants and 40Ar∗/40K for the Fish Canyon sanidine standard, and improved accuracy for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology
journal, September 2010
- Renne, Paul R.; Mundil, Roland; Balco, Greg
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 74, Issue 18
Total and spontaneous fission half-lives for uranium, plutonium, americium and curium nuclides
journal, January 1989
- Holden, N. E.
- Pure and Applied Chemistry, Vol. 61, Issue 8
Half-Life of U ( )
journal, November 1948
- Knight, G. B.; Macklin, R. L.
- Physical Review, Vol. 74, Issue 10
The Monte Carlo Method
journal, September 1949
- Metropolis, Nicholas; Ulam, S.
- Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 44, Issue 247
The Radioactive Constants as of 1930 Report of the International Radium-Standards Commission
journal, July 1931
- Curie, M.; Debierne, A.; Eve, A. S.
- Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 3, Issue 3
Reassessing the uranium decay constants for geochronology using ID-TIMS U–Pb data
journal, January 2006
- Schoene, Blair; Crowley, James L.; Condon, Daniel J.
- Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 70, Issue 2
Mathematical-Statistical Treatment of Data and Errors for 230Th/U Geochronology
journal, January 2003
- Ludwig, K. R.
- Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Vol. 52, Issue 1
A critical review of experimental data for the half-lives of the uranium isotopes 238U and 235U
journal, February 2004
- Schön, R.; Winkler, G.; Kutschera, W.
- Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 60, Issue 2-4
Molecular plating I, a rapid and quantitative method for the electrodeposition of thorium and uranium
journal, February 1964
- Parker, W.; Bildstein, H.; Getoff, N.
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 26
Evaluation of 234Th nuclear decay data
journal, July 2010
- Luca, Aurelian
- Applied Radiation and Isotopes, Vol. 68, Issue 7-8
Protocol for uncertainty assessment of half-lives
journal, May 2008
- Pommé, S.; Camps, J.; Van Ammel, R.
- Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 276, Issue 2
The Uranium 234 Content of Natural Uranium and the Specific Alpha-Activities of the Isotopes
journal, December 1949
- Kienberger, C. A.
- Physical Review, Vol. 76, Issue 11
IUPAC-IUGS status report on the half-lives of 238U, 235U and 234U
text, January 2016
- Villa, I. M.; Holden, N. E.; De Bièvre, P.
- Elsevier Science
The Monte Carlo method
journal, February 1977
- Granovskii, B. L.; Ermakov, S. M.
- Journal of Soviet Mathematics, Vol. 7, Issue 2
Works referencing / citing this record:
Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials
journal, January 2019
- Carter, Simon; Clough, Robert; Fisher, Andy
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 34, Issue 11
Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials
journal, January 2018
- Carter, Simon; Clough, Robert; Fisher, Andy
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 33, Issue 11
Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials
journal, January 2020
- Carter, Simon; Clough, Robert; Fisher, Andy
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 35, Issue 11
Atomic spectrometry update. Review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials
journal, January 2013
- Carter, Simon; Fisher, Andy S.; Hinds, Michael W.
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 28, Issue 12
Atomic spectrometry update: review of advances in the analysis of metals, chemicals and materials
journal, January 2017
- Carter, Simon; Fisher, Andy; Gibson, Bridget
- Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Vol. 32, Issue 11