A5067003265- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Nuclear and radioactivity studies
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
- Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
- Nuclear physics research studies
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Combustion and Detonation Processes
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Nuclear Materials and Properties
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Tribology and Wear Analysis
- MXene and MAX Phase Materials
- High Temperature Alloys and Creep
- Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
- Ion-surface interactions and analysis
University of Vienna
2017-2025
Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films
2024
Technical University of Denmark
2020
Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology
2020
Environmental Protection Agency
2020
University of Oxford
2020
Swedish Radiation Safety Authority
2020
Uppsala University
2020
Technical University of Munich
2010-2018
Excellence Cluster Universe
2017
A dying massive star ends in a supernova explosion ejecting large fraction of its mass into the interstellar medium. If this happens nearby, part ejecta might end on Solar System bodies and, fact, radioactive Fe60 has been detected Pacific ocean floor about 2 Ma old layers. Here, we report detection isotope also lunar samples, originating presumably from same event. The concentration cosmic ray produced Mn53, measured proves origin Fe60. From concentrations found deduce reliable value for...
Significance Massive stars, which terminate their evolution in a cataclysmic explosion called type-II supernova, are the nuclear engines of galactic nucleosynthesis. Among elemental species known to be produced these radioisotope 60 Fe stands out: This has no natural, terrestrial production mechanisms; thus, detection atoms within reservoirs is proof for direct deposition supernova material our solar system. We report, this work, live biologically nanocrystals magnetite, we selectively...
Abstract Isotopic ratios of radioactive releases into the environment are useful signatures for contamination source assessment. Uranium is known to behave conservatively in sea water so that a ratio uranium trace isotopes may serve as superior oceanographic tracer. Here we present data on atomic $$^{233}$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:msup><mml:mrow/><mml:mrow><mml:mn>233</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msup></mml:math> U/ $$^{236}$$...
A strongly stratified water structure and a densely populated catchment make the Baltic Sea one of most polluted seas. Understanding its circulation pattern time scale is essential to predict dynamics hypoxia, eutrophication, pollutants. Anthropogenic 236U 233U have been demonstrated as excellent transient tracers in oceanic studies, but unclear input history inadequate long-term monitoring records limit their application Sea. From two dated sediment cores, we obtained high-resolution...
Abstract We present an application of multi-isotopic fingerprints (i.e., 236 U/ 238 U, 233 129 I and I/ 127 I) for the discovery previously unrecognized sources anthropogenic radioactivity. Our data indicate a source reactor U in Baltic Sea addition to inputs from two European reprocessing plants global fallout. This additional may come unreported discharges Swedish nuclear research facilities as supported by high levels sediment nearby Studsvik, or accidental leakages spent fuel disposed on...
An accurate input function of uranium-236 (236U) is essential for its numerous applications in environmental and ocean studies. This work reveals potential overestimation on 236U releases from the Sellafield (SF) nuclear reprocessing plant (RP) by earlier estimations using shells. We report a 40-year time series dataset uranium isotopes seaweed seasonally collected Kattegat, downstream radioactive discharges European RPs, namely La Hague (LH) SF. Comparison between our measured...
Human impact has become an external forcing control on Earth&#8217;s environmental and geological processes, reshaping entire landscapes leaving traces in archives. Even though this anthropogenic influence can be seen a global scale, regional studies characterizing the scope growth of is scarce, especially for urban or peri-urban environments.In study, we investigate metropolis Vienna its environment, correlate evaluate main signals potential Holocene-Anthropocene transformation 1950s...
Urban deposits pose many challenges compared to natural archives. Due do anthropogenic influence they often have only limited lateral continuity, highly variable deposition rates, are prone (anthropogenic) erosion, reworking and resedimentation, show omission surfaces. In Vienna (Austria) we investigated sediments from an archaeological excavation site near the city centre as part of a transdisciplinary project involving geosciences, isotope physics urban archaeology. The study area at...
The European Green Deal’s ambition for zero pollution requires development of highly sensitive techniques to detect ultra-low amounts pollutants and determine their isotope ratios, where mass spectrometry is a key method. project bridges the traceability gap between activity measurements – particularly estimation bias establishes new tools pollutant tracing. SI-traceable reference materials measurement procedures are being developed that significantly reduce uncertainty detection limits,...
Our recent attempt to determine ultratrace-level 236U and 233U in small-volume seawater samples was challenged by high unstable procedure blanks our environmental radioactivity laboratory, which used be a spent fuel research facility. Through intercomparison experiments with different laboratories background checks on the chemical reagents laboratory dust, resuspended U-bearing dust identified as dominating source of contamination. With implementation control (especially control) measures,...
The long-lived U isotopes, 233U and 236U, have been used increasingly in recent years as marine circulation tracers for identifying sources of uranium contamination the environment. sedimentation histories these two isotopes combination with natural 238U were reconstructed an anoxic sediment core collected from Beppu Bay, Japan, western North Pacific Ocean showing good time resolution (less than 2.6 y/sample). 233U/236U atom ratio showed a prominent peak (3.20 ± 0.30) × 10-2 around 1957...
The concentration of plutonium (Pu) and the isotopic ratios 240Pu to 239Pu 241Pu were determined by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in Pacific Ocean water samples (20 L each) collected late 2012. Pu are important indicators different contamination sources used identify a possible release into ocean Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. In particular, is well-suited indicator for recent entry because from fallout nuclear weapon testings has already significantly decayed....
Recent major advances in Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) at the Vienna Environmental Research (VERA) regarding detection efficiency and isobar suppression have opened possibilities for analysis of additional long-lived radionuclides ultra-low environmental concentrations. These radionuclides, including 233 U, 135 Cs, 99 Tc, 90 Sr, will become important oceanographic tracer application due to their generally conservative behavior ocean water. In particular, isotope ratios U/ 236 U 137 Cs/...
ABSTRACT A setup for ion-laser interaction was coupled to the state-of-the-art AMS facility VERA five years ago and its potential applicability as a new means of isobar suppression in accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) has since been explored. Laser photodetachment molecular dissociation processes anions provide unprecedented factors >10 10 several established isotopes like 36 Cl or 26 Al give access 90 Sr, 135 Cs 182 Hf at 3-MV-tandem facility. Furthermore, Ion-Laser InterAction Mass...
Abstract Cosmogenic He, Ne, and Ar as well the radionuclides 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, 41 Ca, 53 Mn, 60 Fe have been determined on samples from Gebel Kamil ungrouped Ni‐rich iron meteorite by noble gas mass spectrometry accelerator ( AMS ), respectively. The is associated with crater in southern Egypt, which about 45 m diameter. Samples originate an individual large fragment (“Individual”) shrapnel. Concentrations of all cosmogenic nuclides—stable radioactive—are lower a factor 3–4 shrapnel than...
<title>Abstract</title> This work reveals potential overestimation on uranium-236 (<sup>236</sup>U) releases from Sellafield (SF) reprocessing plant in earlier estimations. We report the 40-year time series dataset of uranium isotopes seaweed seasonally collected Kattegat, which is at downstream radioactive discharges European plants La Hague (LH) and SF. When comparing estimated values derived previously reconstructed <sup>236</sup>U LH SF, our observed concentrations demonstrate generally...
In the frame of studies on safe disposal nuclear waste, there is a great interest for understanding migration behavior 99Tc. 99Tc originating from energy production and global fallout shows environmental levels down to 107 atoms/g soil (∼2 fg/g). Extremely low concentrations are also expected in groundwater after diffusion through bentonite constituting technical barrier waste disposal. The main limitation sensitivity mass spectrometric analysis background its stable isobar 99Ru. For...
Anthropogenic strata form the layered urban archive in underground of large cities. In a transdisciplinary project involving geosciences, isotope physics and archaeology, we looked for artificial isotopes anthropogenic trace metals. The tested archaeological site Karlsplatz is situated city Vienna (Austria). Archaeology historical data sets provide age constraints around 1922, post-1945 at 1959. A layer on top WW2 rubble that covers foundations 1922 building post-dates 1945, pre-dates...