Development of isotope-spectroscopic analysis apparatus using glow discharge hollow cathode cell

The screening analyses on various samples, such as gas, liquid residue, and solid samples, are required for the decommissioning of Tokyo Electric Power Corporation Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. We have developed spectroscopic system incorporating laser absorption spectroscopy and glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy. There are many other kinds of emission spectroscopy existing. Sputtering has been applied to produce neutral atomic vapors and induce emissions from them. Advantages in the use of sputtering are that chemically complex solid samples can be readily vaporized into their atomic species. The rare earth element Tm was utilized as a proxy for fissile elements to assess the system for laser absorption spectroscopy and emission spectroscopy analysis at 130 mA in 300 Pa Ne. As a result, a mixture of the two methods resolved a dynamic range of approximately 10 ppm (w/v) to 1000 ppm (w/v) (Tm number of atoms: 3.6 × 1015 to 3.6 × 1017). In addition, laser absorption spectroscopy could resolve the hyperfine structure of Tm-169. With the integration of the two methods could extend dynamic ranges of analyses, which was demonstrated experimentally.