Microbeam, timing and signal-resolved studies of nuclear materials with synchrotron X-ray sources

The development of ultra-brilliant synchrotron X-ray sources enables characterization methods that are particularly important for nuclear materials. Here we discuss emerging synchrotron methods with unprecedented signal-to-noise, spatial and time resolution. Microprobe methods are discussed that extend virtually any X-ray characterization measurement to ultra-small sample volumes. This ability is critical to resolve heterogeneities in nuclear materials and for studies on volumes with vastly lower activity than are needed for traditional X-ray characterization. Specific methods discussed include microdiffraction for the characterization of local crystal structure and micro-spectroscopy techniques that allow for characterization of elemental distributions with sensitivity for daughter products, oxidation states and diffusion through buffer layers. Opportunities are also discussed that exploit the high brilliance and pulsed nature of synchrotron radiation to reduce backgrounds from sample radiation and to study materials dynamics.