Numerous alpha-emitting isotopes emit alpha particles with energies not resolvable (&lt;20 keV) with solid-state alpha spectrometers. Radiochemical separations followed by alpha spectrometry can be used to resolve isotopes with overlapping alpha energies such as Pu-238&Am-241, Np-237&U-234 and Cm-242&Cf-252. Mass spectrometry is required to resolve elements with isotopes with overlapping energies such as U-235&U-236, U-233&U-234, Pu-239&Pu-240, and Cm-243&Cm-244. No field deployable systems exist capable of resolving any of these pairs with unresolvable energies. In the nuclear forensics world, there is value in having the capability in the field of measuring any of these pairs. The goal of this project was to establish whether a device based on Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector (TMFD) technology developed by Purdue University can solve problems such as these. Additionally, the device has the potential to measure low levels of actinides with detection limits superior to those of solid-state alpha spectrometry. Those detection limits combined with the potential high-resolution capabilities could allow this device to assay numerous shorter-lived alpha-emitting isotopes to levels lower than that achievable by mass spectrometry. The results of this research to date will be discussed.

High resolution actinide speciation using tensioned metastable fluid detector (TMFD)

ACS Fall 2021

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