Ir al contenido principal
EU Science Hub
organismo de investigaciónLG-SIMS

Large Geometry Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

Large Geometry-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry provides cutting-edge technology required for environmental sample analysis for nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation.

Scientific equipment for particle analysis at the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (LG-SIMS) Laboratory.

Large Geometry-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (LG-SIMS) provides cutting-edge technology required for environmental sample analysis for nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation.

In co-operation with the Commission department responsible for the EU's energy policy (DG ENER) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), LG-IMS enhances the abilities in detecting undeclared nuclear activities and to verify declared activities.

The LG-SIMS laboratory contains a class-100 clean room facility and one control room for the preparation of the samples.

Automated searching and measurement

The LG-SIMS instrument combines speed, sensitivity and the highest levels of accuracy and quality control.

The LG-SIMS is equipped with an Automated Particle Measurement (APM) screening that allows for fast automated searching and measurement of fissile material particles, mainly uranium, in a matrix of millions of other particles, turning it into an invaluable asset to fight against undeclared nuclear activities.

Searching for traces of nuclear materials

These devices are mainly used to search for traces of nuclear materials in particles collected on cotton swipes during nuclear safeguards inspections. This allows nuclear safeguard authorities to verify not only the correctness of a state's declaration about its nuclear activity, but also its completeness, confirming the absence of undeclared activities by correlating the measured isotopic composition with the declared operations at nuclear facilities.

In addition, the laboratory is playing a key role for research projects linked to the production of certified particle reference materials, which in turn allows other laboratories to improve their analyses.

Laboratory photos 

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (LG-SIMS) Laboratory of Karlsruhe, Germany

Scientific equipment for particle analysis at the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (LG-SIMS) Laboratory. © European Union, 2021 Copyright

You can view additional images of the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry laboratory  at the JRC Digital Media Hub.

See photo report