Application of laser ionization mass spectrometry for measurement of uranium isotope ratio in nuclear forensics and nuclear safeguards

The uranium isotope ratio of both bulk material and individual particles provides important information for nuclear safeguards and nuclear forensics. As a rapid in situ analytical technique, laser ionization mass spectrometry (LIMS) was used to determine the uranium isotope ratio of solid bulk samples and single particles of U3O8. The results of measuring bulk samples showed excellent agreement with certified values. The deviation was less than 1% and the uncertainty of measurement was less than 5%. The uranium isotope ratio of single particles with diameters of about 50 mu m was measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with LIMS. According to our research, LIMS has demonstrated promising uses in uranium isotope analysis in nuclear forensics and nuclear safeguards.