title: Detection of plutonium isotopes at lowest quantities using in-source resonance ionization mass spectrometry.
abstract: The in-source resonance ionization mass spectrometry technique was applied for quantification of ultratrace amounts of plutonium isotopes as a proof of principle study. In addition to an overall detection limit of 10(4) to 10(5) atoms, this method enables the unambiguous identification and individual quantification of the plutonium isotopes (238)Pu and (241)Pu which are of relevance for dating of radiogenic samples. Due to the element-selective ionization process, these isotopes can be measured even under a high surplus of isobaric contaminations from (238)U or (241)Am, which considerably simplifies chemical preparation. The technique was developed, tested, and characterized on a variety of synthetic and calibration samples and is presently applied to analyze environmental samples.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany. raeder@triumf.ca
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raeder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakimi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stöbener
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trautmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wendt
mesh_terms: D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D057230:Limit of Detection; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D011005:Plutonium