New horizons in microparticle forensics: Actinide imaging and detection of ²³⁸Pu and ^242mAm in hot particles

Micrometer-sized pollutant particles are of highest concern in environmental and life sciences, cosmochemistry, and forensics. From their composition, detailed information on origin and potential risks to human health or environment is obtained. We combine secondary ion mass spectrometry with resonant laser ionization to selectively examine elemental and isotopic composition of individual particles at submicrometer spatial resolution. Avoiding any chemical sample preparation, isobaric interferences are suppressed by five orders of magnitude. In contrast to most mass spectrometric techniques, only negligible mass is consumed, leaving the particle intact for further studies. Identification of actinide elements and their isotopes on a Chernobyl hot particle, including ^242mAm at ultratrace levels, proved the performance. Beyond that, the technique is applicable to almost all elements and opens up previously unexplored scientific applications.