基于紧凑型加速器质谱系统的236U分析技术

Analysis of 236U and its Isotopes by a Compact Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Device

  • 摘要: 近年来,长寿命放射性核素236U逐渐发展成为地球化学和海洋学研究中强有力的示踪剂。本研究基于中国原子能科学研究院(CIAE)自主研制的紧凑型加速器质谱(AMS)装置分析236U及其同位素。通过对系统传输技术、粒子探测技术以及本底排除技术的优化,建立了基于紧凑型AMS的236U测量方法,并对测量性能进行分析,确定了236U的丰度灵敏度以及狭缝设置等因素的影响。经铀标准样品验证,测量丰度灵敏度236U/238U可达10−15量级,测量精度达1%。结果表明,CIAE紧凑型AMS系统具备在低能条件下快速、稳定、高灵敏分析铀样品的能力,为开展236U在核应急、核保障以及环境示踪等方面的应用奠定了基础。

     

    Abstract: The long-lived rare radionuclide 236U has become a powerful tracer in geochemical and oceanographic studies in recent years. In the study, 236U and its isotopes were analyzed by the compact accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) device independently developed by the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). The device mainly divides into ion source and elicitation system, injection system, acceleration and stripping system, high-energy analysis system and the ion detection system, which can measure a variety of nuclides such as 14C, 26Al, 129I, 236U, 239Pu and so on under low-energy conditions. Compared with the previous generation of device at CIAE, in the air-insulated AMS, the footprint of the entire system has been halved to (6.8×3.3) m2=22 m2 based on the central beamline. Through the optimisation of the system transmission, particle detection and background exclusion, 236U measurement using the compact AMS device was established, and its measurement performance was investigated. The helium stripping technique was adopted, and the appropriate gas thickness was determined by stripping gas scanning, which realised the efficient transmission of 238U3+ with a transmission efficiency of 35%. A new Bragg-type gas detector was used to measure trace nuclides such as 236U. The detector fully utilised its signal amplification function, and its signal-to-noise ratio was improved to achieve the detection of low-energy heavy ions. The source of the background for 236U measurement was thoroughly studied, and the exclusion of molecular and isotopic background was achieved. The background of 236U measurement was determined by scanning the electrostatic analyser and the magnet on the high-energy side, and the measurement background can be stably less than 2.5×10−14. The abundance sensitivity of 236U was determined using an indirect measurement method, and the effect of factors such as slit settings was discussed. After the verification of uranium standard samples, the abundance sensitivity of 236U/238U during the measurement reaches 10−15, and the measurement accuracy reaches 1%. The results showed that the low-energy compact AMS device has unique advantages in heavy nuclides measurement, such as high sensitivity, good safety, low operating cost, and can rapidly analyse uranium samples with low background and minimal sample usage. This system lays a solid foundation for the application of 236U in nuclear emergencies, nuclear safeguards and environmental tracing.

     

/

返回文章
返回