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New loading method for high precision Sm isotope analysis of nuclear materials using thermal ionization mass spectrometry

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Abstract

This work demonstrates an analytical protocol for high precision Sm isotope analysis by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) using a Pt activator. The method permits precise measurements of small aliquots (1–20 ng) of Sm on single Re filament using a modified static-total evaporation technique. This study represents the first attempt to use such protocols for Sm isotope analyses while reducing the loading size of Sm for TIMS. The method could potentially be deployed to study geological, meteorites and lunar samples containing low Sm concentrations, to monitor neutron irradiation exposure based on 149,150Sm, or to measure Sm isotopic composition in other types of nuclear samples.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank an anonymous reviewer for a very thorough review of this paper which resulted in several substantial improvements. Thanks are also due to Andrew Reinhard, Azim Kara and Joel Maassen for discussions that substantially helped in the development of this study. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration through the Nuclear Science and Security Consortium under Award Number(s) DE-NA0003180. In addition, this work was funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development. The Glenn T. Seaborg Institute and the African American Partnership Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory also supported part of this work. LA-UR-20-26067.

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  1. Nuclear and Radiochemistry Group, Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    James Louis-Jean, Jeremy D. Inglis, Susan Hanson, Anthony Pollington, Daniel Meininger, Sean Reilly & Robert Steiner

  2. Radiochemistry Program, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, 89154, USA

    James Louis-Jean

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  1. James Louis-Jean
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Louis-Jean, J., Inglis, J.D., Hanson, S. et al. New loading method for high precision Sm isotope analysis of nuclear materials using thermal ionization mass spectrometry. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 327, 317–327 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-020-07513-x

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