Investigation of microscopic radiation damage in waste forms using ODNMR and AEM techniques

Abstract

This project seeks to understand the microscopic effects of radiation damage in nuclear waste forms. Our approach to this challenge encompasses studies of crystals and glass containing short-lived alpha- and beta-emitting actinides with electron microscopy, laser spectroscopy, and computational modeling and simulation. Much of our effort is to probe alpha-decay induced microscopic damage in 17-year old samples of crystalline yttrium and lutetium orthophosphates that initially contained {approx}1% of the alpha-emitting isotope Cm-244 (18.1 y half life). Studies also are conducted on borosilicate glasses that contain Cm-244, Am-241, or Bk-249, respectively. Our goal is to gain clear insight into accumulated radiation damage and the influence of aging on such damage, which are critical factors in the long-term performance of high-level nuclear waste forms.