2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Development of an ultralow background mass spectrometer for isotope analysis of noble gas atoms using delayed ionization via the metastable state

Research Project

Project/Area Number	23760832
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Nuclear engineering
Research Institution	Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Principal Investigator	IWATA Yoshihiro 独立行政法人日本原子力研究開発機構, 高速実験炉部, 研究員 (20568191)
Project Period (FY)	2011 – 2012
Keywords	原子力エネルギー / 原子・分子物理 / 計測工学 / 破損燃料位置検出 / レーザー共鳴イオン化 / 時間差イオン化
Research Abstract	To reduce background in resonance ionization mass spectrometry applied for the failed fuel detection and location system of fast reactors, we developed a method of delayed ionization of krypton and xenon isotopes via the metastable states. With the use of a long wavelength laser for the delayed ionization, the effect of argon and argon dimer ionization on background generated by photoelectrons could successfully be eliminated, and the ionization efficiency was evaluated to be about 10% compared to that with a conventional technique of using a short-wavelength ultraviolet laser.

(3 results)