Investigation on in situ and real-time monitoring of uranium aerosol from emergency emission after accidents by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technology for nuclear safeguard because of the advantages of rapid analysis, in situ and real-time detection. The potential application of LIBS is simulatively investigated for continuous uranium emission monitoring during the nuclear accident. The aerosol containing UOx is generated with laser ablation to simulate the uranium emission in laboratory. The laser induced plasma emission in the aerosol has been continuously analyzed with a spectroscopy. The characteristic spectral lines of uranium have been clearly identified. The intensity variation of uranium spectral lines agrees well with UOx particles emission and sedimentation process in aerosol. The potential of LIBS is demonstrated for emergency and continuous emission monitor in nuclear accidents.