A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF A QUADRUPOLE MASS SPECTROMETER FOR SAFEGUARDS ISOTOPE RATIO MEASUREMENTS

摘要

A quadrupole mass spectrometer was evaluated for use in measuring uranium, plutonium, and thorium isotope ratios. Planned applications include plant control instrumentation, plant safeguards accountability measurements, and use by Energy Research and Development Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or International Atomic Energy Authority inspectors.nA series of uranium standard reference material from the National Bureau of Standards was repeatedly measured under conditions simulating routine use. 234U, 235U, 236U, and 238U peaks were resolved. A resolution of approximately 233 and an abundance sensitivity of 3,500 were measured using instrument settings for isotope measurements.