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Physical Characterization of Actinide Particles - A Study on Novel Techniques for Radiological and Nuclear Safeguard Investigations

Ranebo, Ylva LU (2009)
Abstract
This thesis presents a study of advanced analytical techniques, for the

characterization of actinide particles originating from the non-peaceful use of

nuclear technology and from international inspections of the nuclear fuel cycle

associated with non-proliferation agreements. The thesis is based on five papers,

which will be referred to by Paper I-V in the text.

Individual particle analysis has several advantages over bulk analysis as it can

give detailed information on elemental surface and internal compositions,

elemental distributions, and compositional information. This information is

valuable in tracing the source of the material, and in modelling and predicting... (More)
This thesis presents a study of advanced analytical techniques, for the

characterization of actinide particles originating from the non-peaceful use of

nuclear technology and from international inspections of the nuclear fuel cycle

associated with non-proliferation agreements. The thesis is based on five papers,

which will be referred to by Paper I-V in the text.

Individual particle analysis has several advantages over bulk analysis as it can

give detailed information on elemental surface and internal compositions,

elemental distributions, and compositional information. This information is

valuable in tracing the source of the material, and in modelling and predicting the

transport of radionuclides in the environment, for instance, in a release scenario. In

bulk sample analysis, these characteristics are largely masked.

The specific objectives of this work, which was aimed at improving the

techniques used in actinide particle analysis, were:

1) the analysis of microscopic materials from nuclear weapons tests and an

accidental release involving nuclear weapons (Papers I and II) and materials

from nuclear inspection samples (Paper III) in order to obtain elemental and

isotopic fingerprints. Single-particle analysis were performed using

techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and scanning

electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize the particles, regarding elemental,

isotopic, size and morphology structures, and fundamental limitations were

identified;

2) the optimization of SIMS analysis of uranium particles by tuning the

instrument to obtain the highest obtainable efficiency (Paper III);

3) the investigation of large-geometry SIMS applied to inspection samples to

allow isotopic analysis of particles that is not possible with conventional

SIMS (Paper III);

4) the production and characterization of new particle materials suitable for

calibration purposes (Papers IV and V); and

5) the application of the calibration material produced for the evaluation of

SIMS and SEM (Papers III and V). (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Prof Danesi, Pier Roberto, University of Pavia, Italy
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
plutonium oxide particles, secondary ion mass spectrometry, uranium oxide particles, hot particles, vibrating orifice aerosol generator, scanning electron microscopy, nuclear safeguards
pages
62 pages
publisher
Lund University (Media-Tryck)
defense location
Föreläsningssal 5, Centralblocket, Universitetssjukhuset i Lund,
defense date
2009-12-10 10:00:00
ISBN
978-91-628-7889-4
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
846e51b8-250c-4ff3-93d9-0845bc109803 (old id 1501419)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:38:05
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:59:54
@phdthesis{846e51b8-250c-4ff3-93d9-0845bc109803,
  abstract     = {{This thesis presents a study of advanced analytical techniques, for the<br/><br>
characterization of actinide particles originating from the non-peaceful use of<br/><br>
nuclear technology and from international inspections of the nuclear fuel cycle<br/><br>
associated with non-proliferation agreements. The thesis is based on five papers,<br/><br>
which will be referred to by Paper I-V in the text.<br/><br>
Individual particle analysis has several advantages over bulk analysis as it can<br/><br>
give detailed information on elemental surface and internal compositions,<br/><br>
elemental distributions, and compositional information. This information is<br/><br>
valuable in tracing the source of the material, and in modelling and predicting the<br/><br>
transport of radionuclides in the environment, for instance, in a release scenario. In<br/><br>
bulk sample analysis, these characteristics are largely masked.<br/><br>
The specific objectives of this work, which was aimed at improving the<br/><br>
techniques used in actinide particle analysis, were:<br/><br>
1) the analysis of microscopic materials from nuclear weapons tests and an<br/><br>
accidental release involving nuclear weapons (Papers I and II) and materials<br/><br>
from nuclear inspection samples (Paper III) in order to obtain elemental and<br/><br>
isotopic fingerprints. Single-particle analysis were performed using<br/><br>
techniques such as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and scanning<br/><br>
electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize the particles, regarding elemental,<br/><br>
isotopic, size and morphology structures, and fundamental limitations were<br/><br>
identified;<br/><br>
2) the optimization of SIMS analysis of uranium particles by tuning the<br/><br>
instrument to obtain the highest obtainable efficiency (Paper III);<br/><br>
3) the investigation of large-geometry SIMS applied to inspection samples to<br/><br>
allow isotopic analysis of particles that is not possible with conventional<br/><br>
SIMS (Paper III);<br/><br>
4) the production and characterization of new particle materials suitable for<br/><br>
calibration purposes (Papers IV and V); and<br/><br>
5) the application of the calibration material produced for the evaluation of<br/><br>
SIMS and SEM (Papers III and V).}},
  author       = {{Ranebo, Ylva}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-628-7889-4}},
  keywords     = {{plutonium oxide particles; secondary ion mass spectrometry; uranium oxide particles; hot particles; vibrating orifice aerosol generator; scanning electron microscopy; nuclear safeguards}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University (Media-Tryck)}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  title        = {{Physical Characterization of Actinide Particles - A Study on Novel Techniques for Radiological and Nuclear Safeguard Investigations}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}