Recent Advances in Nuclear Forensic Chemistry

Innovative Vibrational Spectroscopy Research for Forensic Application

“…In 2021, a review article was published on the recent advances in nuclear chemistry, covering a wide range of analytical methods for analyzing nuclear samples. 167 This indepth review goes well beyond the uses of vibrational spectroscopy for nuclear forensics, but it does cover the use of micro-Raman spectroscopy for sample analysis.…”

“…While there are many analytical methods that have been used for analyzing nuclear materials (X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and alpha spectrometry), vibrational spectroscopy has been shown to be a useful technique for the detection and characterization of radioactive compounds. In 2021, a review article was published on the recent advances in nuclear chemistry, covering a wide range of analytical methods for analyzing nuclear samples . This in-depth review goes well beyond the uses of vibrational spectroscopy for nuclear forensics, but it does cover the use of micro-Raman spectroscopy for sample analysis.…”

Precise and accurate isotopic analysis of uranium and thorium in uranium ore concentrates using ICP-MS and their age dating for nuclear forensic analysis

“…In the domain of nuclear forensics, [1][2][3][4][5] the signatures of UOCs include uranium isotopic abundances, elemental concentrations, rare earth elemental patterns, physicochemical properties, and the isotope compositions of certain trace elements. Among all these indicators, 3,6 uranium isotope ratios are essential signatures, considered to be the major parameters for tracing the source and process conditions.…”

In View of “On-Site” Nuclear Forensics and Assay of Fissile Materials in Sealed Packages by High-Resolution γ-Ray Spectrometry

“…Since the early 1990s, numerous incidences of nuclear smuggling, globally, have been reported in the IAEA’s Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB), which required a rapid development of a field, “nuclear forensics”, in the past few years. − Nuclear forensics is the identification, characterization, and assay of special nuclear materials (SNMs) diverted from regulatory control to provide support for nuclear attribution and legal proceedings. Numerous advanced analytical methodologies have been evolved in the recent past to address complex nuclear forensic problems using experiments (majorly destructive analysis) and artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques. − For the samples mostly encountered in nuclear forensics, prior information about the nature of the sample and its contents is not known, and thus, nondestructive γ-ray spectrometry can play an important role in fairly rapid harvesting of information about the isotopic composition and their absolute amounts present in a sealed voluminous sample, without altering the physical integrity or the chemical form of the sample, thereby helping in quick “on-site” decision making regarding the severity, potential radiological threat, and possible intended use of the diversion. , This would assist in setting up the roadmap for the next steps of analysis for more detailed nuclear forensic investigations.…”

“…Numerous advanced analytical methodologies have been evolved in the recent past to address complex nuclear forensic problems using experiments (majorly destructive analysis) and artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques. − For the samples mostly encountered in nuclear forensics, prior information about the nature of the sample and its contents is not known, and thus, nondestructive γ-ray spectrometry can play an important role in fairly rapid harvesting of information about the isotopic composition and their absolute amounts present in a sealed voluminous sample, without altering the physical integrity or the chemical form of the sample, thereby helping in quick “on-site” decision making regarding the severity, potential radiological threat, and possible intended use of the diversion. , This would assist in setting up the roadmap for the next steps of analysis for more detailed nuclear forensic investigations. Modern high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors with high resolution can resolve isotope-specific characteristic γ-rays and thus can provide isotopic fingerprints of different radionuclides present in a sealed sample. ,− γ-ray spectrometers are used globally to detect and deter nuclear smuggling across borders and ports, where the objective is mainly a rapid screening of a large number of freight and personnel for SNMs or other radioactive species without aiming for precise assay. , With the advent of high-efficiency handheld γ-ray spectrometers with moderate to high energy resolution, detailed assay of fissile isotopes such as 239 Pu and 235 U in suspected flagged packages may be feasible, on-site, with a measurement time of few minutes to an hour. So far, application of γ-ray spectrometry has been limited mostly to the identification and relative quantification of the isotopes amenable to γ-ray spectrometry in such samples.…”