Telemetering of uranium of plutonium in glass

• US 6,400,787 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Euratom
• Original Assignee: Euratom
• Inventors: Babelot, Jean-Francois, Hiddemann, Lars, Koch, Lothar, Niemax, Kay
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Richardson, John
• Application Number:
  US09/861,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20010036243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 376/257, 376/311, 376/317, 376/318, 250/358.1, 250/492.1, 250/339.07, 250/336.1, 250/339.1, 250/493.1
• US Class Current: 376/257
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/718 Laser microanalysis, i.e. with formation of sample plasma

Abstract

Described are a process and an apparatus for the remote measurement of uranium or plutonium in radioactive materials. in which the sample of the material to be analyzed is to be handled as little as possible. To attain that object it is proposed that the laser beam of a laser is focussed by means of a focussing unit onto the sample to be analyzed, so that a light-emitting plasma is generated, an image of the emission spectrum of the plasma is formed in a spectrograph by means of an imaging unit, and finally it is analyzed by means of an analyzing unit.

Claims

1. A process for the remote measurement of uranium or plutonium in radioactive materials characterized by the following steps:

generating a light-emitting plasma of a sample to be analyzed by means of a laser beam,

forming an emission spectrum of the plasma in a spectrograph,

flushing the plasma with dust-free air for the purpose of shielding the plasma from disturbance effects due to the ambient air during the forming of the emission spectrum,

and analyzing the emission spectrum.

2. A process as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the beginning of the analysis operation is delayed relative to the laser pulse emission time.