PNNL

Connor Hilton joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2020 and is currently an Earth scientist supporting the Energy and Environment Directorate in the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory. His work focuses on analyzing nuclear materials using mass spectrometry, including thermal ionization mass spectrometry, multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and noble gas mass spectrometry. Hilton applies these techniques to address questions related to nuclear forensics, post irradiation examinations, and nuclear material fabrication.

Prior to joining PNNL, Hilton earned his PhD at the University of Maryland, where he studied the isotopic composition of the early solar system by analyzing iron meteorites.  

• Nuclear forensics
• Radiochronometry
• Laser ablation
• Mass spectrometry

• PhD in geochemistry, University of Maryland
• BS in geochemistry, Brown University

2023

• Chiappe E.M., Ash R.D., Luttinen A., Lukkari S., Kuva J., Hilton C.D., Walker R.J. (2023) Chemical and Genetic Characterization of the Ungrouped Pallasite Lieksa. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 58, 1747-1759.

2022

• Hilton C.D., Ash R.D., Walker R.J. (2022) Chemical Characteristics of Iron Meteorite Parent Bodies. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 318, 112-125.
• Corrigan C.M., Nagashima K., Hilton C.D., McCoy T.J., Ash R.D., Walker R.J., McDonough W.F., Rumble D. (2022) Nickel-Rich, Volatile Depleted Iron Meteorites: Relationships and Formation Processes. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 333, 1-21.

2020

• Hilton C.D., Ash R.D., Walker R.J. (2020) Origin of the Eagle Station Pallasites from the IIF iron meteorite core. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 55, 2570-2586.
• Tornabene H., Hilton C.D., Bermingham K.R., Ash R.D., Walker R.J. (2020) Genetics, Age, and Crystallization History of Group IIC Iron Meteorites. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 288, 36-50.
• Hilton C.D. and Walker R.J. (2020) New Implications for the Origin of the IAB Main Group Iron Meteorites and the Isotopic Evolution of the Noncarbonaceous (NC) Reservoir. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 540, 116248.
• Hilton C.D., Ash R.D., Piccoli P.M., Kring D.A., McCoy T.J., Walker R.J. (2020) Origin and Age of Metal Veins in Canyon Diablo Graphite Nodules. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 55, 771-780.

2019

• Hilton C.D., Bermingham K.R., Walker R.J., McCoy T.J. (2019) Genetics, Crystallization Sequence, and Age of the South Byron Trio Iron Meteorites: New insights to Carbonaceous Chondrite (CC) Type Parent Bodies. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 251, 217-228.
• McCoy T.J., Corrigan C.M., Nagashima K., Reynolds V.S., Ash R.D., McDonough W.F., Yang J., Goldstein J.I., Hilton C.D. (2019) The Milton Pallasite And South Byron Trio Irons: Evidence for Oxidation and Core Crystallization. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 259, 358-370.

2018

• Cook D.L., Smith T., Leya I., Hilton C.D., Walker R.J., Schӧnbächler M. (2018) Excess ¹⁸⁰W in IIAB Iron Meteorites: Identification of Cosmogenic, Radiogenic, and Nucleosynthetic Components. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 503, 29-36.