b'Liquid Scintillation AlphaSpectrometer advances improve actinide isotope detection in environmental Spectrometry for Nuclearsamples for nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear energy, environmental Non-proliferation andmonitoring, and other applications.NuclearForensics R esearchers hypothesized that pulse-shape discrimination alpha liquid scintillation spectroscopy employing current state-of-the art electronics and waveform signal analysis methods can achieve milli-becquerel alpha emitter detection limits, and that these methods can greatly improve the ability to detect and quantify actinide isotopes in environmental samples for nuclear non-proliferation applications, nuclear energy applications, environmental monitoring, and other applications. A prototype alpha spectrometry tool was developed that TOTAL APPROVED AMOUNT:is suitable for laboratory or field work and can assay liquid solutions or filter paper $735,000 over 3 years placed in a solution and determine the isotopic content of the alpha-emitting PROJECT NUMBER:nuclides. Key innovations in this approach include: (1) the use of advanced digital 19A39-020 signal processing methods and equipment in place of analog electronics; (2) the use of robust miniaturized silicon photomultipliers in place of vacuum-tube PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:photomultipliers; and (3) the use of new chemical methods that do not generate David Chichester hazardous mixed waste.CO-INVESTIGATORS: As a result of this proof-of-principle research, an operator can mix an analyte James Johnson, INL solution with a pre-prepared liquid scintillation solution and then place the Mathew Snow, INL mixture into a measurement device the size of a small box. The prototype system Scott Thompson, INL includes hardware and automated software to perform the analysis. Results are Scott Watson, INL reported that include the alpha-emitting isotope activity in units of becquerel, Thomas Holschuh, INL including uncertainty.Guy Backstrom, Radiological and EnvironmentalTALENT PIPELINE:Sciences Laboratory Creighton King, student at Washington State UniversityJessica Ward, student at University of IdahoPulse-shape discrimination alpha liquid scintillation spectroscopy enables field-ready alpha emitter detectionat milli-becquerel levels.57'