Production study of Fr, Ra and Ac radioactive ion beams at ISOLDE, CERN

E. Jajčišinová, K. Dockx, M. Au, S. Bara, T. E. Cocolios, K. Chrysalidis, G. J. Farooq-Smith, D. V. Fedorov, V. N. Fedosseev, K. T. Flanagan, M. Heines, D. Houngbo, J. D. Johnson, A. Kellerbauer, S. Kraemer, B. A. Marsh, L. Popescu, J. P. Ramos, S. Rothe, M. D. SeliverstovS. Sels, Simon Stegemann, M. Stryjczyk, V. Verelst

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    The presented paper discusses the production of radioactive ion beams of francium, radium, and actinium from thick uranium carbide (UCx) targets at ISOLDE, CERN. This study focuses on the release curves and extractable yields of francium, radium and actinium isotopes. The ion source temperature was varied in order to study the relative contributions of surface and laser ionization to the production of the actinium ion beams. The experimental results are presented in the form of release parameters. Representative extractable yields per μC are presented for 222-231Ac, several Ra and Fr isotopes in the mass ranges 214≤A≤233 and 205≤A≤231 respectively. The release efficiency for several isotopes of each of the studied elements was calculated by comparing their yields to the estimated in-target production rates modeled by CERN-FLUKA. The maximal extraction efficiency of actinium was calculated to be 2.1(6)% for a combination of surface ionization using a Ta ion source and resonant laser ionization using the two-step 438.58 nm, and 424.69 nm scheme.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number11033
    Number of pages9
    JournalScientific Reports
    Volume14
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Apr 2024

    Funding

    FundersFunder number
    Horizon Europe
    Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
    GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung
    CERN - Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire861198
    EUROfusion101008571, 654002, ENSAR2
    STFC - Science and Technology Facilities CouncilST/P004423/1
    KU LeuvenC14/22/104, STG/15/031

      ASJC Scopus subject areas

      • General

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