Report on preliminary experience with total evaporation measurements in thermal ionization mass spectrometry

Abstract

Results and experience are presented for a method of “fractionation bias free” measurements in thermal ionization mass spectrometry. The total evaporation method can be performed on multi-collector mass spectrometers where the isotopes of interest can be detected simultaneously. The total consumption of the sample allows one to use filament loadings of different amounts without having calibration problems due to fractionation. The performance of this method is demonstrated on uranium and plutonium samples.