Semi-quantitative analysis of the Lanthanide series elements using a laser induced breakdown spectroscopy

In view of an IAEA Safeguards implementation for nuclear materials, the Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) method has an advantage of a timely analysis of multi elements in a sample taken from a nuclear fuel cycle process when compared to a time consuming chemical analysis method. Also the LIBS technique adopting fiber optics could be a promising method for measuring sensitive nuclear material (such as Uranium, Plutonium and Curium) in a high radiation environment such as a hot-cell. LIBS measurement was carried out to derive an optimized measurement condition with a high reproducibility and to grow a plasma sphere to 20 mm in height under a 500 mtorr vacuum. The measurement of the plasma was taken at a 6.0 mm distance, in the direction of a plasma sphere, from a sample. This location belongs to the outer sphere region in the plasma. Four ‘Nd, Cu’ binary samples and ‘Sm, Cu’ binary samples which had mutually different components were prepared in an Arc Melting Furnace at 3000? starting with a homogeneously mixed powder form of Nd, Sm and Cu. Here, Cu is the reference element for each mixed-sample. The measurement was performed after 50 laser ablations under the same conditions, and repeated 10 times. The result of the measurement was satisfactory with a normal distribution, and the calibration curves of ‘Nd’ and ‘Sm’ respectively were acquired by the signal intensity ratio and the atomic ratio for the samples. In conclusion this experiment lead to the potential of a quantitative analysis of nuclear material contents in a spent fuel handling process only if specific standards are on hand. The study will continue to improve the accuracy of the quantitative measurement for the Nd and Sm samples with a diversified mixture, and a U standards sample.