Challenging in laser based spectroscopy for nuclear engineering

Wakaida, Ikuo ; Oba, Hironori  ; Akaoka, Katsuaki ; Miyabe, Masabumi   ; Oba, Masaki ; Ito, Chikara   ; Saeki, Morihisa; Kato, Masaaki

In nuclear engineering, especially for the decommissioning of severe accident atomic power plant, development of quick, easy, non-contact, no-preparation, direct, remote, onsite and in-situ analysis of nuclear fuel materials which has very complex and large amount of optical emission lines will be indispensable. In these R&D, it may be important how we realize high sensitivity and high resolution spectroscopy and perform the identification of the specific element among a large number of emission spectra. Various kind of technique, such as Double-pulse LIBS and Microwave assisted LIBS for multiply the emission intensity, high resolution LIBS by ultra-high resolution spectrometer or Laser Ablation Resonance Absorption Spectroscopy for isotope analysis, Ultra-thin Liquid flow LIBS for liquid phase application and LIBS based on radiation resistant optical fiber for onsite/in-situ monitoring of melt downed nuclear fuel debris, will have been under investigation. Japan Atomic Energy Agency has opened the new research center "Collaborative Laboratories for Advanced Decommissioning Science", and laser based spectroscopy will be restarted as one of the basic projects.