October 10, 2018
Journal Article

Tracking of oxide formation in laser-produced uranium plasmas

Abstract

We use a spatially and temporally resolved emission tracking technique based on optical emission spectroscopy to map the evolution of emission features from uranium and its compounds in a plasma produced by a nanosecond laser. We observe quenching of the emission from neutral uranium (U I 591.538 nm) and uranium monoxide (UO 593.55 nm) species with increasing oxygen concentration and discuss possible reaction pathways for dissociation or formation of higher uranium oxides (UxOy). We further identify spectral features between 320 and 380 nm and between 520 and 640 nm, which we attribute to higher uranium oxides.

Revised: January 3, 2019 | Published: October 10, 2018

Citation

Skrodzki P.J., M. Burger, I. Jovanovic, M.C. Phillips, B.E. Brumfield, and S.S. Harilal. 2018. Tracking of oxide formation in laser-produced uranium plasmas. Optics Letters 43, no. 20:5118-5121. PNNL-SA-136967. doi:10.1364/OL.43.005118