Radioactive oxide removal by XeCl laser

We present the results on cleaning, achieved in nuclear facilities, of metallic surfaces polluted by radioactive oxides. Experimental results of excimer laser decontamination have been obtained for different radionuclides (Cs, Co, Eu, ...) deposited under various conditions (fixed or unfixed contamination). Our laser decontamination prototype is composed of a XeCl laser, a bundle of fibers for beam transmission, optical systems, collection cell with filter for ablated particle recovery, computer control of cleaning efficiency and beam displacement. We show that the use of the excimer laser ablation technique for decontamination of nuclear facilities has many advantages such as the possibility of remote control, dry process, and, especially, the absence of secondary wastes (clean process). Decontamination factors (DF : initial activity/residual activity) higher than 15 for fixed contamination and up to 100 for unfixed contamination are obtained