Physical Characterization of Actinide Particles - A Study on Novel Techniques for Radiological and Nuclear Safeguard Investigations
(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:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1501419
- author
- Ranebo, Ylva LU
- supervisor
-
- Elis Holm LU
- opponent
-
- Prof Danesi, Pier Roberto, University of Pavia, Italy
- organization
- publishing date
- 2009
- 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}}, }