Updating the Gas Chromatography Methodology for Measuring Hydrogen Isotopologues at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics

A new gas chromatography method has been set up at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). Gas chromatrography has been used at LLE for over 10 years to measure the hydrogen isotopologues (H2, HD, HT, D2, DT, T2) present in the inertial confinement fusion fuel supply. The present work improves upon previous methods, allowing for reduced sample volumes, reduced elution times, and additional contaminant measurements. Initial method development was done with several purchased gas mixtures to test the contaminant methods and with a HD mixture for the hydrogen method. Elution of all the contaminant peaks occurred within 11 min and the three hydrogen isotopologue peaks (H2/HD/D2) within 3 min.