New loading method for high precision Sm isotope analysis of nuclear materials using thermal ionization mass spectrometry

This work demonstrates an analytical protocol for high precision Sm isotope analysis by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) using a Pt activator. The method permits precise measurements of small aliquots (1-20 ng) of Sm on single Re filament using a modified static-total evaporation technique. This study represents the first attempt to use such protocols for Sm isotope analyses while reducing the loading size of Sm for TIMS. The method could potentially be deployed to study geological, meteorites and lunar samples containing low Sm concentrations, to monitor neutron irradiation exposure based on Sm-149,Sm-150, or to measure Sm isotopic composition in other types of nuclear samples.

Automated summary

This study presents an analytical protocol for high precision Sm isotope analysis by TIMS using a Pt activator, allowing precise measurements of small aliquots of Sm. The method could be applied to study geological, meteorites, and lunar samples, as well as for neutron irradiation exposure monitoring and isotopic composition measurement in other types of nuclear samples.