Safeguards Analytical Laboratory
Mass Spectrometry
The mass spectrometric laboratory is equipped with 3 mass spectrometers. Two instruments are Finnigan MAT 261 with 9 Faraday cup collectors wich have fixed distances arranged for the measurement of Uranium and Plutonium samples in multi-collector mode.
Finnigan MAT 261
The third instrument is a Finnigan MAT 262 RPQ Plus equipped with 7 collectors where 6 of which can be moved by motor drive, thus allowing the analysis of nearly any element in multi-collector mode. These instruments are used for the routine analysis of Safeguards samples collected previously by Safeguards inspectors and sent to SAL. The following elements have been analysed in our laboratory :
- Magnesium (for tank calibration)
- Lutetium (for tank calibration)
- Uranium (for isotopic composition and element assay)
- Plutonium (for isotopic composition and element assay)
Tests with the elements Europium, Ytterbium and Samarium have also been performed. The preferred measurement method used in the mass spectrometric laboratory is the total evaporation measurement method. This allows the production of measurement results which are practically free of mass fractionation, thus no corrections have to be made on the results. The sample fixed on the sample filament is used completely for the analysis, therefore the mass fractionation effect cancels itself.