Abstract

We present in this paper the results obtained in our laboratory of the determination of the isotopic ratios ²³⁵U/²³⁸U, ²³⁴U/²³⁸U, and ²³⁶U/²³⁵U in natural and enriched uranium using optogalvanic detection of laser absorption. The possibility of resolving the isotopic structure of uranium absorption lines by optogalvanic spectroscopy in a hollow-cathode-produced plasma makes this technique a promising candidate for rapid and accurate analysis of ²³⁵U, ²³⁴U, and ²³⁶U in natural, enriched, and recycled samples of this element. The detection limits attainable, the overall feasibility of this method of analysis, and its possible application to nuclear-reactor fuel assays are also briefly discussed.

© 1984 Optical Society of America

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