Abstract
We propose a method for the detection and characterization of nuclear decay processes. Specifically, we describe how nuclear decay recoil can be observed within small particles levitated in an optical trap with high positional resolution. Precise measurements of the magnitude of each recoil as well as their rate of occurrence can provide accurate information about the isotopic composition of a radioactive sample. We expect that this technique for nuclear material characterization will be especially useful in the area of nuclear forensic analysis.
- Received 6 June 2018
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.98.052103
Published by the American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Synopsis
Detecting Nuclear Decay with Recoil
Published 6 November 2018
Small particles levitated in an optical trap can recoil from radioactive decays in a way that identifies their nuclear composition, a new theoretical study suggests.
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