Isotopic Measurements of U particles by Secondary Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (SIMS)

摘要

The most common environmental samples taken by IAEA Safeguards inspectors are dust samplesrncollected on cotton swipes. The isotopic analysis of particles from these samples is one of IAEA’srnmain tools to verify the absence of non-declared nuclear material handling and has since it wasrnfirst introduced in the early 1990’s been proven as a reliable and extremely sensitive technique.rnIAEA’s environmental samples are analysed at the Safeguards Analytical Laboratory (SAL)rnand/or by a laboratory in an international network highly specialized in this type of analysis. Thernisotopic analysis of U particles at SAL is done by the use of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometryrn(SIMS). The analytical SIMS work includes sample preparation, screening methods to locate Urnparticles in a matrix of other material and the final isotopic measurements of individual particles.rnThis paper presents an overview on the status and SAL’s program for analytical improvements inrnthe analysis of U particles by SIMS.