Spectral Data Fusion From Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzers for Improved Detection of Cerium in a Simulated Dispersal Accident

Here, this work implements a mid-level data fusion methodology on spectral data from handheld X-ray fluorescence and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analyzers to quantify plutonium surrogate (CeO₂) contamination in soil samples for the first time. Spectral data from each analyzer were used independently to train supervised machine learning regressions to predict Ce concentration. Fused features from both data sets were then used to train the same models, comparing prediction performance by evaluating model precision and sensitivity. Fusing principal component scores from the two sensors yielded an order of magnitude improvement in precision and sensitivity of predictions made with an artificial neural network, compared to predictions made by models trained on independent sensor data. As a result, a boosted ensemble trained on the fused spectral features yielded an ideal predictor with root-mean-squared error on the order of 10^–6 and calculated limit of detection order 10^–5 wt %.. Authors: Braun, Janos I. [New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM (United States)]; Anderson, Paige E. [University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)]; Borrero Negrón, Justin I. [University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)]; Hartig, Kyle C. [University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)] (ORCID:0000000348295955); Rao, Ashwin P. [Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0000000319312568). DOE Contract: NA0004142. Subjects: 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; LIBS; XRF; data fusion; machine learning; nuclear forensics; plutonium contamination