RadChem 2018

Analysis of environmental radionuclides at ultra-low levels: Limitations for underground experiments on rare nuclear processes

16 May 2018, 10:30

30m

Marble Hall (Casino Conference Centre)

Invited Nuclear Analytical Methods NAM 3

Speaker

Prof. Pavel P. Povinec (Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia)

Description

Accelerator mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, neutron activation analysis and underground gamma-ray spectrometry have been investigated for ultra-sensitive analysis of long-lived radionuclides (${}^{238}U$ and ${}^{232}Th$) in isotope sources and in construction materials designed for underground studies of rare nuclear processes and decays. Specific features of each method are compared with the aim to optimize analytical conditions for different types of samples. Detection limits below 1 nBq/g are feasible, depending on the analytical method and sample matrix. Analytical results obtained with various methods for different samples are presented, and limitations of presently available technologies and plans for future developments are discussed.