Simulation of Nuclear Analytical Chemistry Operations

This paper describes the objected-oriented, discrete-event simulation model of nuclear analytical chemistry operations developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Analytical chemistry supports nuclear materials and waste characterization, quality control, and process control. Some major requesting organizations for analytical services are metal preparation, manufacturing, recovery, and waste management. The model tracks the progress of samples from delivery to analytical chemistry through sample management, sample preparation, measurement, data reduction, data management, to delivery of results back to the requester. Analytical chemistry is a key component of material verification and control efforts, and is therefore important to the materials accountability community.