Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Isotope Ration Data of Uranium Oxide Particles and Detection of Groupings

Published

October 16, 2008

Author(s)

Albert J. Fahey, J Greg Gillen

Abstract

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) has been used in an automated way to survey a large number of particles to find isotopically rare materials and characterize isotopically distinct populations[1]. One application of this method is the detection of isotopically enriched uranium in environmental samples. Such an application is of interest to organiztions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency that monitor nuclear enrichment facilities to ensure treaty compliance[2]. When a large number of particles are measured for their isotopic ratios it would be useful to have an unbiased method of separating them into groups and determining group means. An algorithm has been devised, largely based on a chi²} statistic, that delineates statistically significant groups in one-dimensional isotope ratio data. The method is a partitioning-style method that takes into account the uncertainties in the data. The algorithm is described herein and applied to several example data sets.

Citation

International Journal Of Mass Spectrometry And Ion Processes

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

isotope, ratios, SIMS, uranium

Citation

Fahey, A. and Gillen, J. (2008), Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Isotope Ration Data of Uranium Oxide Particles and Detection of Groupings, International Journal Of Mass Spectrometry And Ion Processes (Accessed October 17, 2025)