  We propose a new method for the detection and characterization of nuclear
decay processes. Specifically, we describe how nuclear decay recoil can be
observed within small particles levitated in an optical trap with high
positional resolution. Precise measurements of the magnitude of each recoil as
well as their rate of occurrence can provide accurate information about the
isotopic composition of a radioactive sample. We expect that this new technique
for nuclear material characterization will be especially useful in the area of
nuclear forensic analysis.
