Compact setup for standoff Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy of radioactive materials

Abstract

Radioactive materials present a major threat and can cause severe direct and long term injuries to humans as experienced i.e. in the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear plant catastrophes. Furthermore, intended use of radiological dispersal devices can be used to spread radioactive materials over large areas. Detecting these hazards and investigating the status of contaminated areas a remote standoff determination of nuclear fission products would serve as a helpful tool for first responders and damage control teams. Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) offers a unique possibility for the identification of elements as nuclear fission products and is even able to distinguish different isotopes of the same species. Within this scope and based on experiences with a high power / long distance (> 100 m) LIBS setup we present a new compact and low power setup. The compactness allows for handheld operation as well as mounted on a small robot or on an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) an advanced setup could be controlled remotely and would be able to safely determine radioactive materials.