Single particle trace element analysis of uranium oxide standards with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Hull, Gregory Andrew [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000211933725); Denton, Joanna S. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000276360091); Inglis, Jeremy David [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000238683041); Sanborn, Matthew Edward [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000332181195)

doi:10.1007/s10967-025-09994-0

DOE OSTI · 2572730

Single particle trace element analysis of uranium oxide standards with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Hull, Gregory Andrew [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000211933725)·Denton, Joanna S. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000276360091)·Inglis, Jeremy David [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000238683041)·Sanborn, Matthew Edward [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000332181195)

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Abstract

Femtosecond Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to analyze over 1000 individual particles of uranium oxide trace element standard CRM124. Intra-granular analysis showed elemental concentrations were consistent across different surface locations on each uranium grain. However, inter-granular comparison revealed large heterogeneity between different grains of the same sample. By comparing the distribution of elemental concentrations across the particle populations, we were able to correctly identify a manufacturing process involving wet chemistry, rather than a dry mixing of two powders to give an overall chemical average. In conclusion, this demonstrates the utility of LIBS as a large-scale single particle analysis tool for nuclear forensics.

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11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY 98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)Nuclear forensics Particle analysis

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Hull, Gregory Andrew [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000211933725), Denton, Joanna S. [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000276360091), Inglis, Jeremy David [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000238683041), Sanborn, Matthew Edward [Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000332181195). 2025-01-29. Single particle trace element analysis of uranium oxide standards with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-025-09994-0

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