Frontiers of Synchrotron Methods for Actinide Science

This article explores the application of synchrotron radiation techniques - XAS, XES, HERFD, RIXS, and XRD - to investigate actinide materials. It provides insights into electronic structures, oxidation states, and phase transitions, emphasizing the transformative role of these techniques in advancing nuclear materials research, environmental safety, and actinide science.

Abstract

The complexity of actinide chemistry and physics, driven by intricate electronic structures, variable oxidation states, and radioactive properties, poses significant challenges for scientific exploration. Synchrotron radiation methods, including X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES), high energy resolution fluorescence detection (HERFD) XAS, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), have proven to be transformative tools in addressing these challenges. These advanced methods enable detailed investigations of local environments, oxidation states, and phase transitions, offering critical insights into nuclear fuel management, environmental remediation, and the development of advanced materials. This work highlights the developments and applications of synchrotron-based methods and their analysis for studying actinide systems at the Rossendorf beamline at the ESRF (Grenoble, France). The results underscore the pivotal role of the combination of synchrotron techniques and advanced theoretical modeling to unravel the complexities of actinide materials.

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