Synthesis and characterization of surrogate nuclear explosion debris: urban glass matrix

Campbell, Keri; Judge, Elizabeth J.; Dirmyer, Matthew R.; Kelly, Dan; Czerwinski, Ken

doi:10.1007/s10967-017-5367-y

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…One approach to emulate the temperature conditions relevant to study nuclear fireball chemistry in the laboratory is with plasma discharges or high-power lasers 18 – 23 . Such studies, for instance, have shown the formation of gas-phase UO after laser ablation (LA) of uranium 24 – 29 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of oxygen concentration on the speciation of laser ablated uranium

Burton

Auner

Crowhurst

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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In order to model the fate and transport of particles following a nuclear explosion, there must first be an understanding of individual physical and chemical processes that affect particle formation. One interaction pertinent to fireball chemistry and resultant debris formation is that between uranium and oxygen. In this study, we use laser ablation of uranium metal in different concentrations of oxygen gas, either 16O2 or 18O2, to determine the influence of oxygen on rapidly cooling uranium. Analysis of recovered particulates using infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopies indicate that the micrometer-sized particulates are predominantly amorphous UOx (am-UOx, where 3 ≤ x ≤ 4) and UO2 after ablation in 1 atm of pure O2 and a 1% O2/Ar mixture, respectively. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) of particulates formed in pure O2 suggest an O/U ratio of ~ 3.7, consistent with the vibrational spectroscopy analysis. Both am-UOx and UO2 particulates convert to α-U3O8 when heated. Lastly, experiments performed in 18O2 environments show the formation of 18O-substituted uranium oxides; vibrational frequencies for am-U18Ox are reported for the first time. When compared to literature, this work shows that cooling timescales can affect the structural composition of uranium oxides (i.e., crystalline vs. amorphous). This indicator can be used in current models of nuclear explosions to improve our predicative capabilities of chemical speciation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of oxygen concentration on the speciation of laser ablated uranium

Burton

Auner

Crowhurst

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…One such effort has been the development of surrogate nuclear debris for laboratory and field training exercises. Several debris formulations have been developed at laboratories including Idaho National Laboratory, 3 Los Alamos National Laboratory, 4 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 5 the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, 6–8 and the University of Tennessee. 9–11 Early versions of these formulations used trinitite, the debris formed from the first nuclear weapons test, as a benchmark since trinitite is openly available and has been well characterized.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mass spectroscopy techniques are used to determine isotopic distributions and, in some cases, optical techniques such X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for chemical mapping. 4…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mass spectroscopy techniques are used to determine isotopic distributions and, in some cases, optical techniques such X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for chemical mapping. 4 However, one area of surrogate debris characterization that requires attention is the macroscopic distribution of uranium and other elements within surrogate debris and the repeatability of those distributions from sample to sample. Measurements from trinitite-and uranium-fueled real-world debris indicate a large degree of heterogeneity in major analyte concentrations and prior studies qualitatively compared the heterogeneity of surrogate debris to real-world samples.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Mapping of Uranium in Surrogate Nuclear Debris Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

et al. 2019

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This work describes the use of a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system to conduct macroscopic elemental mapping of uranium and iron on the exterior surface and interior center cross-section of surrogate nuclear debris for the first time. The results suggest that similar LIBS systems could be packaged for use as an effective instrument for screening samples during collection activities in the field or to conduct process control measurements during the production of debris surrogates. The technique focuses on the mitigation of chemical and physical matrix effects of four uranium atomic emission lines, relatively free of interferences and of good analytical value. At a spatial resolution of 0.5 mm, a material fractionation pattern in the surrogate debris is identified and discussed in terms of constituent melting temperatures and thermal gradients experienced.

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