Isotope ratio determination of uranium by optical emission spectroscopy on a laser-produced plasma - basic investigations and analytical results

Abstract We report in this paper, the first determination of the isotope ratio (238/235) in an uranium sample by optical emission spectroscopy on a laser-produced plasma at reduced pressure (2.67 Pa). Investigations aimed at developing a new application of laser ablation for analytical isotope control of uranium are presented. Optimized experimental conditions allow one to obtain atomic emission spectra characterized by the narrowest possible line widths of the order of 0.01 nm for the investigated transition UII 424.437 nm. We show the possibility to achieve a relative precision in the range of 5% for an enrichment of 3.5% 235 U. The influence of different relevant plasma parameters on the measured line width is discussed.

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