Actinide targets for fundamental research in nuclear chemistry and -physics

International Conference on Nuclear Chemistry

December 08-09, 2016 San Antonio, USA

Klaus Eberhardt

University of Mainz, Germany

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nucl Med Radiat Ther

Abstract :

Thin actinide layers deposited on metallic or non-metallic substrates are widely used as calibration sources in nuclear spectroscopy. Other applications include fundamental research in nuclear chemistry and â��physics, e.g.in super-heavy element (SHE) research or in nuclear reaction studies. For the production of neutron-rich isotopes of SHE up to Z=120 hot fusion reactions of actinide target nuclei such as 238U, 242/244Pu, 248Cm, 249Bk and 249Cf with light ion beams are applied. For the design of future nuclear reactors like fast-fission reactors and accelerator-driven systems for transmutation of nuclear waste, precise data for neutron absorption as well as neutron-induced fission cross section data for 242Pu with neutrons of different energies are of particular importance. For the production of actinide layers with the required thickness Molecular Plating (MP) is currently the only fabrication method in cases where the desired actinide material is available only in very limited amounts or possess a high specific activity. Here, deposition is performed from organic solution applying a current density of 1-2mA/cm2. Under these conditions target thicknesses of 500-1000 �¼g/cm2 are possible applying a single deposition step with deposition yields approaching 100 %.). For yield determination �±-particle spectroscopy, �³-spectroscopy and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) is frequently applied. Layer homogeneity can be checked with Radiographic Imaging (RI). Layer characterization with modern analytical techniques (e.g. XRF, XPS, SEM and AFM) is essential to understand target performance under long-term irradiations and to improve the current fabrication technology.

Biography :

Email: eberha@uni-mainz.de