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DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
U. Engelmann, M. Glugla, R.-D. Penzhom, H. J. Ache
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 21 | Number 2 | March 1992 | Pages 430-435
Safety; Measurement and Accountability; Operation and Maintenance; Application | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A29783
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The radiochemical reactions between methane and tritium were vicariously chosen for the evaluation of an omegatron type mass spectrometer and a laser Raman spectrometer in view of their analytical application in tritium systems. Assessment of the omegatron was extended beyond previous work on the quantitative analysis of all hydrogen isotopes and stable helium isotopes to include the determination of tritiated hydrocarbons. As opposed to mass spectrometry, laser Raman spectroscopy is an absolute method, which in principle is applicable to all polyatomic gases. For the employment in tritium systems an uhv-tight stainless steel gas cell using windows mounted in CF flanges with a flatness better than 1 lambda was constructed and tested. The Raman spectra of H2, HD and D2 were measured and the pure rotation and rotation vibration branches assigned. The fundamental vibrations of methane and deuterated methanes have also been identified. First kinetic data on the β-radiation induced exchange reaction between tritium and methane have been obtained with an omegatron.