Issue 5, 2025

Uranium enrichment measurements using tunable laser spectroscopy coupled with fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract

Tunable laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS) and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) were combined with fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (FOLIBS) to characterize 238U and 235U isotopes from a natural uranium (NU) sample. Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy (TRAS) and two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (2D-FS), derived from LAS and LIF respectively, were utilized to visualize uranium isotope shifts. These techniques clearly differentiated the isotopic shift of the U I 394.382 nm transition (≈8.7 GHz) and identified partially resolved hyperfine structures of 235U. Isotope ratio analysis for NU was conducted under 10 torr and 30 torr N2 background gas, and TRAS measurement showed good agreement. However, strong reabsorption in 2D-FS hindered accurate isotope ratio measurements. These rapid, accurate, non-contact laser spectroscopic techniques are promising for in situ measurement of uranium isotopes in hazardous environments, applicable to nuclear energy, safeguards, and forensics.

Graphical abstract: Uranium enrichment measurements using tunable laser spectroscopy coupled with fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Dec 2024
Accepted
10 Mar 2025
First published
08 Apr 2025
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2025,40, 1273-1283

Uranium enrichment measurements using tunable laser spectroscopy coupled with fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Y. Zhao, H. Yang and S. S. Harilal, J. Anal. At. Spectrom., 2025, 40, 1273 DOI: 10.1039/D4JA00444B

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