Isotopic ratio measurements of Cs-135 to Cs-137 Were performed using both resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) to determine the chronological age of nuclear fuel burn-up samples. Initial measurements on a lake sediment sample are being performed at NIST for determination of cesium content in the sample. Atomization behavior of the graphite furnace source, the overall efficiency and selectivity were measured for different sample preparations. Single-resonance excitation 6s S-2(1/2) (F = 4) --> 6p P-2(3/2) (F' = 5) with an extended cavity diode laser followed by photoionization with the 488 nm line of an argon ion laser yielded optical selectivity for Cs-135 and Cs-137 of more than two orders of magnitude against stable Cs-133 and overall selectivity of 10(8). An overall efficiency of 5 x 10(-7) was measured for standard Cs-133 solutions and for the nuclear fuel burn-up samples.
Revised: February 26, 2009 |
Published: April 15, 2004
Citation
Pibida L., C.A. Mcmahon, and B.A. Bushaw. 2004.Laser Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry Measurements of Cesium in Nuclear Burn-up and Sediment Samples.Applied Radiation and Isotopes 60, no. 2-4:567-570.PNNL-SA-41346.doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2003.11.082