chanelink logo
CHANELINK
English

Accurate measurement of neptunium ionization potential using new laser technology

944
2024-05-11 16:42:14
See translation

Neptunium is the main radioactive component of nuclear waste, with a complex atomic structure that can be explored through mass spectrometry. This analysis is crucial for understanding its inherent characteristics and determining the isotopic composition of neptunium waste. Magdalena Kaja and her team from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany have developed a novel laser spectroscopy technique that can more accurately measure the ionization potential of neptunium compared to previous methods.

Neptunium is an actinide metal in the periodic table adjacent to uranium, with an atomic number of 93. The inspiration for its name comes from Neptune, located outside of Uranus in the solar system, which is a recognition of its position. Among the 25 known isotopes, most have extremely short lifetimes. However, the most stable isotope, neptunium 237 (237 Np), has a half-life of over 2 million years, making it a particularly dangerous nuclear pollutant.

The neptunium isotope samples available for this type of analysis are very small: they typically only contain a few atoms of the isotope.


Magdalena Kaja and her colleagues utilized a cutting-edge device that includes solid-state titanium: sapphire laser systems, enhanced laser ion sources, and high transmittance mass separators. This advanced equipment has played an important role in their research on neptunium.

The research team used this technique to measure the first ionization energy of neptunium, which is the energy required to remove the first electron from the outermost electron shell to form a positive ion. They accurately determined the value to be 6.265608 (19) eV. This measurement is not only consistent with the values previously reported in scientific literature, but also achieves an accuracy level more than ten times higher than any previous measurement.

This method can also be applied to the analysis and detection of trace amounts of neptunium in radioactive waste.

Source: Laser Net

Related Recommendations

  • Laser Uranium Enrichment Company (GLE) accelerates development

    Paducah, located in western Kentucky, may become the location of the world's first commercial facility to adopt this technology.Since 2016, Global Laser Enrichment Company (GLE) has partnered with the US Department of Energy to use its unique molecular process to concentrate 200000 tons of depleted uranium "tails" stored at the former Padiuka gas diffusion plant in western Kentucky.After years of ...

    2024-06-22
    See translation

  • E&R Engineering launches a mold cutting solution at Semicon SEA 2024

    Advanced laser and plasma solution provider E&R Engineering Corp. has confirmed that they will participate in the Semiconductor SEA 2024 event held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. With 30 years of focus in the semiconductor industry, E&R has developed a wide range of plasma and laser technologies. At Semicon SEA 2024, they will showcase their latest solutions, including:Plasma Cutting - Small M...

    2024-05-20
    See translation

  • Astera Labs to acquire German startup aiXscale Photonics

    Astera Labs, a Silicon Valley company specializing in high-speed interconnects for rack-level AI infrastructure, has agreed to acquire German startup aiXscale Photonics.Founded by Jeremy Witzens and Florian Merget as a spin-off from the Institute of Integrated Photonics at RWTH Aachen University, aiXscale has developed proprietary wafer-scale precision glass molding technology.The firm’s ultra-hig...

    11-03
    See translation

  • The breakthrough of coherent two-photon lidar overcomes distance limitations

    Schematic diagram of experimental setupNew research has revealed advances in light detection and ranging technology, providing unparalleled sensitivity and accuracy in measuring the distance of distant objects.This study was published in the Physical Review Letters and was the result of a collaboration between Professor Yoon Ho Kim's team at POSTECH in South Korea and the Center for Quantum Scienc...

    2023-12-08
    See translation

  • Construction of Advanced New Laser Research Centers in American Universities

    The ATLAS R&D center is expected to be completed by mid-2026!A powerful new laser research facility located on the Foothills campus of Colorado State University will begin construction this month. The facility is planned to be put into use in mid-2026 and is the result of 40 years of laser development research at Colorado State University. It is a collaboration with the Fusion Energy Science P...

    2024-10-30
    See translation