A multi-sample changer coupled to an electron cyclotron resonance source for accelerator mass spectrometry...

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Analytical Chemistry
• Accelerator Science

Background:

• Measuring neutron capture rates of actinides is crucial for nuclear reactor research and waste management.
• Existing methods for analyzing irradiated actinide samples can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.
• The Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility offers advanced capabilities for nuclear measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a new multi-sample changer for high-throughput analysis of actinide samples.
• To enhance the efficiency of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) measurements at the ATLAS facility.
• To support a project measuring neutron capture rates on a large number of irradiated actinide samples.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a 20-position multi-sample changer with a 1-minute sample-to-sample transition time.
• Utilizing Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at the ATLAS facility.
• Employing laser ablation for sample introduction into an electron cyclotron resonance ion source, minimizing material feed rate dependency and cross-talk.

Main Results:

• The new multi-sample changer allows for rapid and efficient sequential analysis of up to 20 samples.
• The AMS technique at ATLAS, coupled with laser ablation, effectively measures highly charged positive ions.
• The system is designed to handle a large volume of previously irradiated actinide samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed multi-sample changer significantly improves the throughput for AMS analysis of actinide samples.
• This technological advancement supports critical research into neutron capture rates in reactor environments.
• The integration of the sample changer with AMS at ATLAS provides a powerful tool for nuclear materials characterization.