The detection of radioactive noble gas isotopes is one of the key tools in detecting underground nuclear explosions but other volatile elemental species may also migrate to the surface that have historically been overlooked. To investigate this possibility we have been studying which elements are most readily volatilized into air from solid materials (rocks, concrete, glass etc.) following short duration (60-120 sec) spot heating spanning a wide temperature range (100-2000°C). The widest possible range of elements (Li-U) were monitored during the experiments that produced some unexpected results with regards to the apparent atmospheric persistence of some volatilized elements long after heating had ceased and the sample had returned to room temperature. Results highlighting elemental volatility as a function of temperature from different materials will be presented along with examples illustrating the extended periods over which some elements remain detectable by real time atmospheric sampling.
Revised: January 28, 2021 |
Published: October 31, 2018
Citation
Liezers M., G.C. Eiden, and A.J. Carman. 2018.Remote Sensing Volatile Elements for New Signatures from Underground Nuclear Explosions.Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 318, no. 1:55-64.PNNL-SA-133438.doi:10.1007/s10967-018-6167-8