Assessment of anthropogenic actinide background levels on HZDR’s research campus

The new multi-purpose 1-MV AMS facility HAMSTER (Helmholtz Accelerator Mass Spectrometer for Tracing Environmental Radionuclides) in Dresden-Rossendorf will get in operation in 2024. The new machine is dedicated to the analysis of ultra-trace levels of actinides in environmental samples. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the actinide background on HZDR’s research campus to rule out any potential contamination caused by the former research reactor onsite. Hence, several soil samples close to the construction site of the new accelerator building and former radioisotope production facilities
have been analyzed. The samples have been processed in the existing chemistry labs of HZDR’s 6-MV DREAMS facility and the newly established
HAMSTER labs showing comparable low background levels. The measured Pu concentrations and isotopic ratios are in agreement with global fallout signature. However, in some samples increased 236U concentrations and relatively low 233U/236U atomic ratios have been detected pointing to an additional source of 236U. Additional sample analysis will be performed with HAMSTER in 2024.