INTDS2016: The 28th World Conference of the International Nuclear Target Development Society

13 Nov 2016, 08:00 → 18 Nov 2016, 18:00 Africa/Johannesburg

Protea Hotel Stellenbosch

We are pleased to announce the INTDS-2016 to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 to 18 November 2016. The conference is hosted and organised by the iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences, a group of multidisciplinary research laboratories administered by the National Research Foundation.

The conference will take place at the Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch, Techno Avenue, Techno Park, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 7130 Cape Town South Africa. (http://www.proteahotels.com/hotels/Pages/Protea-HotelStellenbosch.aspx)

Sunday, 13 November

09:00 → 17:00 INTDS Board Meeting

18:00 → 21:00 Welcome Reception and registration

Monday, 14 November

09:00 → 12:00 Opening Session

Convener: Dr Robert Bark (iThemba LABS)

09:00 Opening Address

Speaker: Dr Rudzani Nemutudi (iThemba LABS)

09:30 Plenary 1: Separation and chemical processing of stable and radioactive isotopes

Speaker: Dr Dorothea Schumann (Paul Scherrer Institute)

11:00 Tea Break

09:30 → 13:30 Session 1

Convener: Mrs ntombizonke kheswa (iThemba LABS)

09:30 Planning of a new Target Laboratory for GSI & FAIR

The target laboratory at GSI consists of about 200 m² conventional laboratory space and about 80 m² of laboratory space with an allowance for the handling of depleted 238U and 238UF4. The laboratories are situated in a technical building, which was put in operation in the 1970ies. Because of major refurbishing of the whole building the conventional laboratories have to move to a new space. We describe the searching for new lab space, the safety precautions, the financial restrictions, the basic planning for building services, for special laboratory equipment and for moving and restarting the running systems. The box coaters, the analytics and most of the high-tech devices will be moved, most of the laboratory equipment and all of the technical building installation have to be modernized or rebuilt, respectively. In order to fulfil the different demands that are inherent for the specialized techniques needed for a successful target preparation a careful planning in close collaboration with the technical infrastructure of GSI as well as with external planners is mandatory. In the shutdown and maintenance break in 2017 the target laboratory has to move to the new laboratory premises on the campus and has to restart again to be in operation again ending of 2017 for beamtime in 2018.

Speaker: Dr Bettina Lommel (GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH)

10:00 Production and characterization of 7Be targets

This contribution presents the separation of 7Be from the cooling water of the Spallation Neutron Source at the Paul Scherrer Institut, Switzerland, followed by the preparation and characterization of 7Be targets. These targets were used in two independent and successful experiments at n_TOF-CERN and at SARAF facilities for the measurement of the 7Be(n,α)4He cross section in the energy range of interest for the Big-Bang nucleosynthesis. The results of these experiments are going to be used for solving or partially mitigate the long lasting “Cosmological Lithium problem". The high specific activity of 7Be and the necessity of producing very thin targets, to be able to detect the outgoing alpha particles, were the main challenges of this project. The first imposed to work in hot cell, while the second was overtook using two different deposition methods: molecular plating onto thin aluminium backings and vaporization of 7Be(NO3)2 droplets precisely positioned onto a stretched low density polyethylene film. The thickness and the uniformity of the obtained targets were characterized by measuring the energy degradation of 5.5 MeV alpha particles passing through them. The results show the obtainment of very thin but not uniform targets when using the vaporization method, conversely, uniform but significantly thicker targets were obtained by molecular plating.

Speaker: Dr Emilio Andrea Maugeri (Paul Scherrer Institut)

11:00 NOVEL TECHNIQUE OF MAKING THIN TARGET FOIL OF HIGH DENSITY MATERIAL VIA ROLLING METHOD

In nuclear physics experiments, thin (1-10 mg/cm2) self-supporting foils are required either as a target or as a backing for real target. The rolling method of making such thin self-supporting foils is cost effective and yields more mechanically strong foil than obtained with any other available technique. The targets made by rolling method, due to their crystalline structure are stronger in nature and therefore have better prospects of withstanding in a high energy heavy-ion induced reaction experiments than the targets prepared by vacuum evaporation. The conventional rolling method fails to yield good quality thin foils of thicknesses less than ~ 2 mg/cm2 for high density materials with Z  70 (e.g. gold, lead). To prepare foils thinner than ~ 2 mg/cm2 for these high density materials some extraordinary efforts with improved technique are needed. In the present work one such novel technique has been described. Using this technique thin self-supporting gold foils of thickness in the range of 0.850 - 2.5 mg/cm2 were obtained in the present work. The technique uses some novel methods like heating of rolling pack to a temperature of ~ 5000 C to maintain flatness of the pack during rolling, the use of alcohol drops during rolling and the use of butter paper. Prior to this work many people used various techniques to produce thin foils of high density material like W, Tl, etc.[1-2], but none of them could achieve thickness < 2 mg/cm2. This is the first time when a target foil of thickness ~ 1.0 mg/cm2 of a high density material like Gold have been made via rolling method using a novel technique. The details of the technique used will be elaborated during presentation. [1] Frank J. Karasek, et al., Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A 167 (1979) 165-166. [5] J. Gehlot, et al., Proceedings of DAE Symposium of Nuclear Physics, Vo. 58, G44 (2013)

Speaker: Dr S.K. Chamoli (Department of Physics & Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India)

11:30 Targets' control systems for S3

In the first phase of exploitation of SPIRAL-2, the LINAG beams will be delivered to the NFS (Neutrons For Science) and S3 (Super Separator Spectrometer) experimental halls. These instrumentations were designed according to the Letters of Intent submitted by a large physics community [1]. With S3, special emphasis is on the study of rare nuclei, such as superheavy elements and neutron-deficient isotopes, produced by fusion evaporation reactions. The spectrometer includes a rotating target [2] to sustain the high-energy deposition, a two-stage separator (momentum achromat followed by a mass spectrometer) that can be coupled to the implantation-decay station SIRIUS or to a gas catcher[3]. In order to cope with the very low production rate of the rare events, the beam intensities will be higher by a factor of five to ten compared to the present ones. Then, a major experimental concern is the behavior of thin targets under these highly intense heavy ion beams. We propose to report on the targets control systems envisaged for S3 targets stations with a description of the experimental set-up (electron gun and infrared camera) and an overview of the present results. [1] SPIRAL2 Letters of Intent: http://pro.ganil-spiral2.eu/spiral2 [2] Ch. Stodel et al, Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, (DOI) 10.1007/s10967-015-3936-5 [3] J. Piot and the S3 collaboration, Acta Phys. Pol. B 43 (2012)

Speaker: Dr Christelle STODEL (GANIL)

13:00 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 16:00 Session 2

Convener: Dr Klaus Eberhardt (Johannes Gutenbrg-University, Mainz)

14:00 Preparation of Os and W targets by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) for nuclear astrophysics experiments

Keywords: osmium target, tungsten target, pulsed laser deposition, nuclear physics applications The present research study focuses on the preparation and characterization of Os and W targets dedicated to nuclear astrophysics experiments. In general, this type of experiments requires very smooth targets in a pure metal form, without points or wrinkles and with extremly-precised thicknesses. These materials possess very high vaporization temperatures and as a consequence the preparation of good quality Os and W targets using physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques is very difficult. To overcome the limitations of PVD methods, pulsed lased deposition (PLD) is one of the most popular technique that allows preparation of thin films of a wide range of materials with high density, thickness uniformity on the defined surface, controllable thickness, high purity and durability [1]. In this context, several Os and W targets with different thicknesses (1-2μm) on 20μm aluminum backing were prepared using PLD technique. The most important target’s characteristics (thickness, chemical purity and surface morphology) are further established through alpha transmission measurements, XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM/EDX (Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses. The performances of the obtained targets were tested by alpha activation technique at 9MV Tandem accelerator from “Horia Hulubei-National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH, Magurele, Romania), in order to measure the alpha induced reaction cross section of Os and W isotopes. References: [1] Pulsed laser deposition of thin films: applications-led growth of functional materials/ edited by Robert Eason, Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, 2006.

Speaker: Ms Andreea Mitu (Horia Hulubei National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering)

14:30 Mixed Californium Electrodeposition Target Update

Unique decay-enriched 251Cf material was recovered from aged 252Cf sources stored at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, purified, and electrodeposited onto thin Ti foils for use as targets in the study of Cf+48Ca fusion-evaporation reaction. The electrodepostion unit was designed with the assembled segment (Ti foil and frame) fitting into the side of the deposition well. Silicon gaskets were placed on both sides of the well with the front edge of the segment up against the gasket to create a liquid-tight seal. The Cf was electrodeposited using the isobutyl alcohol method, which was conducted at 0.3 mA/cm2 for 4 hours with the voltage limited to 150 V. Twelve target segments were produced with an average areal deposition of 309 μg/cm2 of mixed Cf. The segments were shipped to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, and assembled onto a target wheel. Irradiation of the target initiated in the U-400 M heavy ion cyclotron using a beam of 48Ca ions on October 1, 2015. One decay chain of 294118 was observed during the first three months of irradiations. The alpha rate from target material was monitored at the final focus of the Dubna Gas Filled Recoil Separator (DGFRS) during the experiment. Alpha spectra were evaluated for each target segment on a regular basis. The stability of alpha rate over time indicated that the Cf content in the target was not changing. Typically broad alpha spectra are observed in the first measurements of the target but, after some beam dose, the spectra become narrower indicating possible burn out of organic content. Similar alpha spectra behavior was observed with the mixed 251Cf targets; however, during the experiment an unexpected increase in the low-energy tail of the alpha spectra developed over time. Visual inspection of the target indicated a film covering part of the surface of the electrodeposited material. This presentation will address the current status of the investigations into the identity of the film and the remake of the mixed Cf target segments.

Speaker: Dr Rose Boll (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

15:00 Study of the Lifetime for Charge Stripper Foils in the 3-GeV RCS of J-PARC

For the 3GeV Rapid Cycling Synchrotron (RCS) in J-PARC, charge stripper foil is a key technology to keep high operating rate for multi-turn injection of high-power proton synchrotrons. For a charge stripper foil in the RCS, we applied a Hybrid type thick Boron-doped Carbon (HBC: Boron 25%) foil which is produced with the arc-discharge method. The required foil thickness is about 1.5μm (333μg/cm2) corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 99.7% for 400MeV injection from the linac. Actually it has enough toughness to stand high-intensity beam operation less than 500kW. Recently a graphite foil developed by TASC (Technology Research Association for Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes) graphene division in Japan was also tried to adopt as the stripping foil for the beam operation in J-PARC, and it had good performance in the condition of 200kW beam operation. But after the beam operation both foils occurred deformation by the beam damage. So we are worry to be destroyed by the beam hitting in the higher power condition. It is very important toward 1MW beam operation to predict the lifetime of foils. We have investigated by the microscopic analyses such as TEM for damage of foils by the Argon ion irradiation in energy of 300keV of TIARA (Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application). Now we cannot estimate the lifetime of these foils for the 400MeV beam operation from the results of offline foils study in TIARA. In order to evaluate the lifetime of foils quantitatively, we started to obtain Raman spectra of foils irradiated each ion such as H, He and Ar in energy of different energy such as 350keV, 2 and 3 MeV. We will try to predict the lifetime of foils by estimating peaks’ shifts of Raman spectra as an indicator corresponding to DPA (Displacement Per Atom) by simulation code PHITS.

Speaker: Dr Yoshio Yamazaki (Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC))

15:30 Tea Break

15:30 → 16:00 Tea Break

16:00 → 17:00 Session 2b

Convener: Dr Klaus Eberhardt (Johannes Gutenbrg-University, Mainz)

16:00 Fabrication and characterization of thin isotopic 144,154 Sm targets sandwiched between carbon layers

Isotopic thin samarium (Sm) targets of 150-200 μg/cm2 thickness have been fabricated in high vacuum(HV) environment by thermal evaporation method on carbon (C) backing of 20-25 μg/cm2 thickness at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi. Preparation and storage of lanthanide targets is quite challenging task as they are chemically very active. A very thin layer of C of thickness 5-10 μg/cm2 has been evaporated on Sm using electron-gun bombardment technique to prevent it from oxidation. Set of more than twenty 144Sm and 154Sm targets each were successfully prepared in the target laboratory of IUAC, New Delhi. Characterization techniques like Rutherford back scattering (RBS), Alpha energy loss technique and Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) have been used to access the purity, thickness and elemental composition of targets. Thickness of these targets measured by using different techniques are in well agreement with each other. These targets have been successfully used in three nuclear physics experiments using the National Array of Neutron Detectors (NAND), HYbrid Recoil Mass Analyzer (HYRA) and General Purpose Scattering chamber (GPSC) at IUAC.

Speaker: Ms Ruchi Mahajan (Department of Physics, Panjab University Chandigarh)

Tuesday, 15 November

08:30 → 10:30 Session 3

Convener: Anna STOLARZ (Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw)

08:30 Plenary 2: Scientific opportunities at SARAF with the LiLiT neutron source

Speaker: Dr Ido Silverman (Soreq)

09:30 Making low vapour pressure targets: organometallic and metallocenes as the precursors.

Low vapour pressure target materials are a challenge to manufacture, irrespective of whether they are thin or thick. This challenge gets enhanced when target materials with thickness below 500 µg/cm2 are required as they are limitations in methods available to prepare them. For example, some materials are not malleable enough to work on (roll), like B, Be, W, Si etc. In this contribution, a method will be described in details where an organometallic approach is used to synthesise high vapour pressure targets in their enriched isotopic form. This production method also is relevant for other applications such as exotic beam production at iThemba LABS. Keywords: organometallic, metallocene, cyclopentadiene, sandwich structures.

Speaker: Mrs ntombizonke kheswa (iThemba LABS)

10:00 New Evaporator Station for the Center for Accelerator Target Science

As part of an equipment grant provided by DOE NP for the Center for Accelerator Target Science (CATS) initiative, the procurement of a new, electron beam, high-vacuum deposition system from Angstrom Engineering was identified as a priority to insure reliable and continued availability of high-purity targets. The apparatus was designed to contain TWO electron beam guns; a standard 4-pocket 270° geometry source as well as an electron bombardment source. The acquisition of this new system will allow for the replacement of TWO outdated and aging vacuum evaporators. Also included is an additional thermal boat source, enhancing our capability within this deposition unit. Recommended specifications for this system included an automated, high-vacuum pumping station, a deposition chamber including a rotating and heated substrate holder for uniform coating capabilities and incorporating computer-controlled, state-of-the-art thin film technologies. Design specifications, enhanced capabilities and the necessary mechanical modifications for our target work will be discussed.

Speaker: Mr John Greene (Argonne National Laboratory)

10:30 → 11:00 Tea Break

11:00 → 13:00 Session 4

Convener: Dr Bettina Lommel (GSI, Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research)

11:00 Ca-48 targets – home and abroad!

Using the method of reduction/distillation1, one can prepare high purity films of robust and ductile calcium metal for use as targets in nuclear physics experiments. These targets however are extremely air-sensitive and procedures must be developed for their handling and use without exposure to air2. In addition, the low natural abundance of the isotope Ca-48 provides an increased incentive for the best efficiencies available in their preparation. In most instances the Ca-48 target will be used on a carrier foil (backing) and a thin covering of similar material is employed to further reduce re-oxidation. Un-backed metallic targets are rarely produced due to these concerns. Here we describe the preparation of Ca-48 targets employing BOTH a thin gold backing and covering for use here at home, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), as well as abroad, to Osaka University. For the shipments overseas, much care and preparation were necessary to insure a safe arrival and that the targets remained un-oxidized. 1Ed Kobisk, Report AERE-R 5097 (1965) 103 2J.D.Stinson, INTDS Proceedings (1974) 100

Speaker: Mr John Greene (Argonne National Laboratory)

11:30 Improvements of the target lifetime in the RHIC Polarimeter*

The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is the only collider in the world to collide polarized protons. It is critical to the experimental program that the polarization of the proton beam is measured in RHIC. This is accomplished with the Coulomb Nuclear Interference (CNI) polarimeter. The targets used in the RHIC CNI polarimeter are 50 nm thick, 25 mm long and <10 m wide. As the beam intensity in RHIC has increased and the beam size has decreased, the lifetime of these targets has decreased dramatically. During the 2013 polarized proton experimental run, the targets needed to be replaced twice. This resulted in additional work and lost beam time. Before the 2015 experimental run, metal shields were installed around the ends of the targets which greatly improved the target lifetime. The results from the 2015 and plans for the 2017 experimental run will be discussed. * This work is performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy

Speaker: Mr Dannie Steski (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

12:00 Fabrication of thin sandwiched 142,150Nd targets

The synthesis of heavier elements is one of the prime area of research in experimental and theoretical nuclear physics experiments. Using 48Ti as a projectile, we have planned to carry out the study of ER cross-section and spin distribution of ERs on isotopic 142,150Nd lanthanide targets using HYRA spectrometer [1]. Fabrication of thin self supporting targets is highly difficult. But, due to oxidizing and smearing nature of lanthanides it is very difficult to get a self-supporting very thin target foil (specially for high Z materials). In the trial session, various attempts were made to prepare thin self-supporting Nd targets but all the trials were unsuccessful. So, we have decided to use a very thin backing foil of light Z material to fabricate 142,150Nd targets for the reaction studies. Furthermore, due to the hygroscopic nature of Nd, it quickly reacts with the hot water and form Nd(OH)3. To avoid the direct contact between Nd layer and water during floating, a very thin coating of carbon (thickness ~10 μg/cm2) was also deposited [2] just after the deposition of Nd layer. Prior to this work, some groups have also reported the preparation of Nd targets, Sugai et al. [3] prepared 142Nd targets of thickness 100 mg/cm2 by fluorination of rare-earth oxide powders followed by a Ca reduction using RF heating, Greene et al. [4] used zirconium as the reducing agent and neodymium targets of thickness 0.5 and 1.2 mg/cm2 has been prepared on 500 μg/cm2 carbon backing. In the present work, the fabrication of sandwiched 142,150Nd targets of thickness ~100-150 μg/cm2 were fabricated between two very thin layers of carbon using thermal evaporation method in diffusion pump based HV chamber which were used for the HYRA spectrometer experiments.

Speaker: Mrs Priya Sharma (Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh-160014, India)

12:30 Production of ​9​Be targets for nuclear physics experiments

Self-supporting beryllium (​9​Be) targets were produced by mechanical rolling method in which a double pack technique was implemented. Targets were used for the investigation of the low-lying excitation energy region in ​9​Be through the ​9​Be(​3​He,t)​9​B reaction at the K600 spectrometer, at iThemba LABS facility. Beryllium is a semimetal in nature and this makes it hard to deform by rolling or vacuum evaporate as a self-supporting target. Therefore heat treatment was needed to avoid brittleness and breakage of the material during rolling process. A description is given on how beryllium targets were manufactured. Keywords: Rolling method, annealing, vacuum atmosphere, thickness, target

Speakers: Dr Daniel José Marín-Lámbarri (iThemba LABS/ University of the Western Cape) , Mrs ntombizonke kheswa (iThemba LABS)

13:00 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 16:00 Session 5

Convener: Mr Hiroo Hasebe (RIKEN)

14:00 Target development of oxidizing materials

Target development of oxidizing materials Abhilash S Ra,*, D. Kabiraja aInter-University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India *Corresponding author: abhilashiuac@gmail.com Abstract Target development of oxidizing materials is always a challenging job. Oxidizing targets like Pb, Nd, Gd, Sm, Ba etc. are frequently fabricated in target development laboratory at Inter-University Accelerator Centre (IUAC) [1-8]. Minimizing the exposure of target materials to atmosphere before and after the target preparation plays the most important role in development readily oxidizing isotopic targets. Since many of them are of rarely available isotopically enriched materials, its preservation for longer duration is also important. Most of the targets are prepared by either vacuum evaporation or rolling technique. In addition to recent target developments of oxidizing materials, recent other target developments at IUAC will also be discussed in the report. References [1] D Kabiraj, Samit Mandal, D.K Avasthi, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A362 (1995) 205. [2] Samit Mandal, D Kabiraj, D.K Avasthi, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A397 (1997) 59. [3] Savi Goyal, S.R. Abhilash, D. Kabiraj, Sunil Kalkal, S. Mandal, Instr. and Meth. A777 (2015) 70. [4] V. Kumar, S.R. Abhilash, D. Kabiraj, P. Thakur, A.K. Bhati,Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A613 (2010) 404. [5] S. R. Abhilash, S. K. Saini, D. Kabiraj, J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2014) 299:1137–1139 [6] Gayatri Mohanto, S. R. Abhilash, D. Kabiraj, N. Madhavan, R. K. Bhowmik J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2014) 299:1129–1131. [7] Abhilash S R, J. Gehlot, Tathagata Banerjee, K. Selvakumar, Jasmeet Kaur, D Kabiraj, J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2015) 305: 749-753 [8] J. Gehlot, S.R. Abhilash, S. Ojha, D. Mehta , D. Kabiraj, A.M.Vinodkumar, J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2015) 305:755–759

Speakers: Mr Abhilash Sthuthikkatt Reghu (Inter-University Accelerator Centre) , Mr Debulal Kabiraj (Inter-University Accelerator Centre)

14:30 Actinide targets for fundamental research in nuclear chemistry and -physics

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 –physics, e.g. the chemical and physical properties of super-heavy elements (SHE, Z > 103) or nuclear reaction studies with heavy ions. For this, layers of actinide target nuclei such as 238U, 242/244Pu, 248Cm, 249Bk and 249Cf with areal mass densities up to 1 mg/cm2 deposited on 1-2 μm thin metallic foils are required. 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. A recent application include studies of nuclear transitions in 229Th. For this, a thin and very smooth layer of 233U is used. We report here on the production of actinide layers by Molecular Plating (MP). 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 1-2 mA/cm2. Under these conditions target thicknesses of 500-1000 μg/cm2 are possible applying a single deposition step with deposition yields approaching 100 %.). For yield determination α-particle spectroscopy, γ-spectroscopy and Neutron Activation Analysis is routinely used. Layer homogeneity can be checked with Radiographic Imaging. For target characterization on a μm-scale a Scanning Electron Microscope in combination with X-ray Fluorescence is also available. The combination of these analytical techniques is essential to improve the current target fabrication technology and to understand target performance under long-term irradiations conditions. As an alternative technique to MP the production of thin lanthanide and actinide layers by ink-jet printing is currently investigated.

Speaker: Dr Klaus Eberhardt (Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, 55099 Mainz Germany)

16:00 → 21:00 Tour of iThemba LABS and Spit Braai

Wednesday, 16 November

08:30 → 10:30 Session 6

Convener: Mr John Greene (Argonne National Laboratory)

08:30 Plenary 3: UCx target preparations and characterizations

Speaker: Dr Alberto Andrighetto (INFN - Laboratori di Legnaro)

09:30 Thin and thick targets for radioactive ion beam production at SPIRAL1 facility

P. Jardin, O. Bajeat, P. Delahaye, M. Dubois, V. Kuchi, L. Maunoury GANIL (Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds), CAEN, France. The upgrade of the Système de Production d’Ions Radioactifs Accélérés en Ligne (SPIRAL1) facility will deliver its new Radioactive Ion Beams (RIB) by spring 2017. The goal of the upgrade is an improvement of the performances of the installation in terms of isotopes species and ion charge states [1]. Ion beams are produced using the Isotope Separator On Line Method, consisting in an association of a primary beam of stable ions, a target and an ion source. The primary beam impinges on the material of the target. Radioactive isotopes are produced by nuclear reactions and propagate up to the source, where they are ionized and accelerated to create a RIB. One advantage of SPIRAL1 is the variety of the available primary beams, from carbon to uranium with energies up to 95 MeV/A. Coupled with target made of a large choice of materials, the variety of possible nuclear reactions (fusion-evaporation, transfer, fragmentation) leads to the production of a wide range of isotopes, and for some of them in regions of the nuclide chart still rarely explored. Depending on the reaction process, the collision energy and the primary beam power, thin and thick targets are used. Their design has to cope with specific constraints related to each primary beam / target couple and to the ion source. After a brief presentation of the SPIRAL1 Target Ion Source System challenges, the main target features, studies and designs under progress will be presented. [1] P. Jardin et al., Nuclear Intrum. and Methods B 376 (2016) 64-67

Speaker: Dr Pascal JARDIN (CNRS/IN2P3/GANIL)

10:00 Radioactive lanthanides – from isotope production to nuclear physics experiments

Nuclear astrophysics requires precise knowledge on cross section data for isotopes involved in stellar nucleosynthesis. For the s-process occurring during stellar evolution, so-called branching point isotopes are especially important, since here neutron capture and β-decay competes. The measurement of cross section data for these radioactive isotopes is a challenging endeavour due to the limited availability and high activity of the material involved. We will report on the production of such branching point isotopes at the high flux reactor at ILL, Grenoble, France, and the following isotope separation performed at our institute. We have successfully separated 150 GBq 171Tm and 3 GBq 147Pm from hundreds of milligrams of irradiated, enriched lanthanide seed materials. Two suitable targets containing the separated radioisotopes were successfully prepared by molecular plating and provided to CERN n_TOF for neutron capture cross-section measurements. We will briefly report on the production of targets for these isotopes and give preliminary results of their cross section measurements. This work will also focus on the production, separation and characterization of weighable amounts of the 163Ho isotope, which has also gained a huge interest in the physics community aiming to measure the neutrino mass. Approximately 2 mg of 163Ho have been successfully separated from hundreds of mg of irradiated 162Er. This isotope is also foreseen for neutron cross-section measurements at CERN n_TOF in the near future.

Speaker: Dr Stephan Heinitz (Paul Scherrer Institut)

10:30 → 11:00 Tea Break

11:00 → 12:00 Session 7

Convener: Dr Paul Papka (Stellenbosch University)

11:00 ACTAR TPC: An active target and time projection chamber for nuclear physics

One of the main challenges facing experiments with rare-isotope beams is the need to extract high quality data of key physical observables from extremely limited numbers of incident ions and ever decreasing production cross sections for nuclei furthest from stability. Experiments are performed in inverse kinematics and must rely on thick reaction targets but this is often with the cost of a significant reduction in the efficiency for detection of low-energy particles, energy resolution, and overall sensitivity. We have adopted an alternative approach and are presently developing a high-luminosity gas-filled active target and time projection chamber (ACTAR TPC) for experiments at GANIL, ISOLDE, and worldwide. In an active target, the filling gas is used as both a sensitive detection medium for charged particles and as a thick reaction target with relatively low energy loss per-unit-length compared to conventional solid-targets. Another main advantage of these detectors is their ability to track the individual trajectories of reaction or decay products through its volume to provide a complete 3-dimensional reconstruction on an event-by-event basis. The core detection system will consist of micro pattern gaseous detectors (MPGDs) coupled to a highly pixelated 2x2 mm$^2$ pad plane for a total of 16k electronic channels. Technical challenges associated with mechanics and readout of such a high-density front end have required several parallel developments including the design and construction of a comprehensive ASIC-based electronics system called General Electronics for TPCs (GET). A detailed overview of the ACTAR TPC project, whose aim is to perform first experiments in 2017, and first results obtained with a 2048-channel prototype version of the final design will be presented.

Speaker: Dr Alex Laffoley (GANIL)

11:30 A 20Ne Gas Target for the Active-Target Detector Development at iThemba LABS

File attached

Speaker: Mr Johann Wiggert Brummer (Stellenbosch University / iThemba LABS)

12:00 → 18:00 Excursion

Thursday, 17 November

08:30 → 10:30 Session 8

Convener: Dr Stefan Zeisler (TRIUMF)

08:30 Encapsulation methods for solid radionuclide production targets at a medium-energy cyclotron facility

The majority of batch targets for the cyclotron production of radionuclides at iThemba LABS typically have circular disc or flat cylindrical shapes, with the beam normal to the circular surfaces and usually swept (or wobbled) to reduce the beam power density. These targets are completely surrounded by fast-flowing cooling water during bombardment. Target materials that need protection from the cooling water (e.g. soluble substances such as compressed salts and/or alkali metals that rapidly react with water) are encapsulated (or clad) with a substantially inert metal that has a relatively high melting point. For this purpose, aluminium, niobium and stainless steel (grade 316) are mostly employed. While the cold target materials are normally in a solid state (i.e. when out of the beam), they are likely to become partially, or even completely, molten under bombardment conditions. The target capsule serves as a barrier to the cooling water as well as to contain the target material and to maintain its shape, should melting occur. The main aim of this presentation is to discuss the various methods of target encapsulation employed at iThemba LABS, based on cold indentation welding, electron beam (EB) welding and laser welding. While the latter two methods are more modern and “state of the art”, it will be argued that the “largely forgotten” method of cold indentation welding is still decidedly useful, uncomplicated, reliable and inexpensive. It is therefore still routinely utilized for some production targets as well as experimental targets at iThemba LABS. A brief discussion on the target holders, tandem targetry and the two target stations for high-intensity bombardments with 66 MeV proton beams will also be presented. It will be shown how the use of a beam splitter in conjunction with tandem targetry in both target stations, enables the laboratory to bombard four encapsulated targets simultaneously.

Speaker: Dr Deon Steyn (iThemba LABS)

09:00 Single-jet gas cooling of in-beam foils or specimens: Prediction of the convective heat-transfer coefficient

Various applications utilize an impinging stream of gas for the cooling of metal foils and/or other material specimens while under bombardment in an accelerated particle beam. Helium is often used for this purpose but other gasses are also sometimes employed. Noble gasses can provide cooling as well as an inert environment for the protection of the foils or specimens. At iThemba LABS, radionuclide production targets are bombarded outside the cyclotron and beamline vacuum. In addition to preserving the integrity of the vacuum, the ability to rapidly transfer targets to and from a target station is greatly simplified by eliminating the need to repeatedly break and restore the vacuum. The beamlines to the target stations have been provided with beam exit windows consisting of two closely-spaced thin metal foils (Havar) cooled by helium flowing between them. These gas-cooled, double-foil windows are thin enough to cause minimal energy degradation to the beam but provide a strong enough barrier to maintain the vacuum. In this presentation, it will be shown that the so-called “duct equations” (in particular the Dittus-Boelter, Sieder-Tate and Petukhov-Kirillov formalisms) do not provide accurate estimates of the convective heat-transfer coefficient in applications where the beam spot is relatively small, even though their use for this purpose is not uncommon in the literature. These equations tend to underpredict the forced convection heat transfer, sometimes by as much as a factor of 3. Recently, calculations based on a description for single-jet impingement heat transfer (the Chang formalism) provided results in much better agreement with experimental values. The Chang formalism, however, assumes that the jet direction is normal to the heated surface, which is not the case in our beam-windows assemblies. An experiment was therefore performed at iThemba LABS to investigate the effect of the jet angle on the convective heat-transfer coefficient. Rather surprisingly, it was found that the dependence on the jet direction is indeed quite weak. This was also found in more advanced modelling using a commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code.

Speaker: Dr Deon Steyn (iThemba LABS)

09:30 Investigation of natTi(p,x) Reaction and Measurement of Excitation Functions up to 45 MeV

Natural titanium activated with high energy proton beam results production of some valuable radionuclides applicable in medicine and industry. In this study we measured the production cross-sections of 43,44m,44g,46,47,48Sc, 48V radionuclides from their respective threshold to 45 MeV in natTi(p,x) reaction. Well-known stacked-foil activation technique and off-line gamma-ray spectrometry system was applied in the study. The sample was activated using the external beam line of MC-50 cyclotron at Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Korea. The measured results were compared with the literature data as well as with the model calculations using TENDL-2015 library based on the TALYS 1.8 code. The integral yields for thick target of the investigated radio-nuclides was also deduced from the measured excitation functions. The study is beneficial for those involved in radioisotope production and is helpful to modify the nuclear model calculations.

Speaker: Dr Muhammad Shahid (National Institute of Safety And Security, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Islamabad)

10:00 Targets for studies of the medical radioisotopes production with α and p/d beams

Targets for studies of the medical radioisotopes production with α and p/d beams Stolarz Anna 1) for teams of 1. Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland 2. Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland 3. Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland 4. Institute of the Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warszawa, Poland The studies on the production of the medically interested radioisotopes are carried at the HIL UW with alpha beam provided by the heavy ion cyclotron U200P K=160, and with proton beams provided by the medical p/d high current 16/8 MeV PETtrace cyclotron, both located at HIL UW and by the cyclotron C-30 at Świerk, National Centre for Nuclear Research. The research quantities of the medical radioisotopes are produced by irradiation of the targets made of 100Mo, natural and isotopicaly enriched Ca, natGe, natBi. The natBi targets are used for the production of 211At in reaction with α-particle internal beam. The alpha beam is ussed as well for the production of medically atractive 43,44g,mSc isotopes in reaction with Ca, using mainly targets in form of calcium carbonate. Samples irradiation by the internal α-particle beam delivered by U200P requires special shape of the targets. The procedure used for their preparation will be presented. The irradiations with proton beam are performed using external lines. Preliminary studies of the thermal aspects related to the calcium carbonate targets irradiated at PETtrace proton machine will be discused as well.

Speaker: Dr Anna Stolarz (Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw)

10:30 → 11:00 Tea Break

11:00 → 13:00 Session 9

Convener: Dr Birgit Kindler (GSI)

11:00 Recycling 100Mo for direct production of 99mTc on medical cyclotrons

Please see attached *.docx file.

Speaker: Dr Stefan Zeisler (TRIUMF)

11:30 Design of a thin internal 12C target for antiproton interactions inside the HESR ring at FAIR

H. Younis1, F.Iazzi2, F.Balestra2, R.Introzzi2, A. Lavagno2, M.Ajaz3 and Kamal Hussain Khan4 Abstract: In the future complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) experiments, the HESR (High Energy Storage Ring) will provide antiprotons as projectiles in the momentum range of 1.5-15 GeV/c with a resolution up to 10-5. These antiproton projectiles are helpful in study of charm and strangeness of Double hyper nuclei physics [1]. The FAIR project will supply intense beam of antiprotons from the HESR ring. For carrying all these nuclear reactions it is essential to insert an internal target in HESR. By inserting a nuclear target inside the antiproton ring will leads into two main drawbacks: a large background on the detectors due the overwhelming amount of annihilations and a strong depletion of the beam due to the all the hadronic and coulomb interactions of the antiprotons with 12C nuclei [2]. An appropriate target with precise thickness can minimize these undesirable effects. In this regard a thin diamond target with two-wire shape prototype have been analyzed [3]. The wire shaped diamond target has been obtained using femto-edged laser. Mechanical properties of nuclear target like hardness, purity and thickness of the target have been analyzed by using back scattering technique. For this purpose the target is irradiated with 1.5 MeV beams of protons. Further this prototype has been submitted to micro-Raman Spectroscopy in order check the phase change in the target. The results show performances, which satisfy the experimental requirements. Keywords: Double Hyper-nuclei; Diamond Target; Femto-edged Laser; Ion Storage ring; micro-Raman Spectroscopy Reference: [1] F. Ferro et al. 2007 Nucl. Phys. A 789 209 [2] H. Younis et al. 2013 J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 299, issue 2 951 [3] H. Younis et al. 2014 JINST 9 P04012

Speaker: Dr Hannan Younis (Comsats Institute of Information Technology Islamabad)

12:00 First experience with carbon stripping foils for the 160 MeV H− Injection into the CERN PSB

160 MeV H− beam will be delivered from the new CERN linear accelerator (Linac4) to the Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB), using a H− charge-exchange injection system. A 200 µg/cm2 carbon stripping foil will convert H− into protons by stripping off the electrons. The H− charge-exchange injection principle will be used for the first time in the CERN accelerator complex and involves many challenges. In order to gain experience with the foil changing mechanism and the very fragile foils, in 2016, prior to the installation in the PSB, a stripping foil test stand has been installed in the Linac4 transfer line. In addition, parts of the future PSB injection equipment are also temporarily installed in the Linac4 transfer line for tests with a 160 MeV H− commissioning proton beam. This paper describes the foil changing mechanism and control system, summarizes the practical experience of gluing and handling these foils and reports on the first results with beam.

Speaker: Mr Wim Weterings (CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research)

12:30 Development of rotating graphite carbon disk stripper

Hiroo Hasebe1, Hiroki Okuno1, Atsushi Tatami2, Masamitsu Tachibana2, Mutsuaki Murakami2, Hironori Kuboki1, Hiroshi Imao1, Nobuhisa Fukunishi1, Masayuki Kase1, and Osamu Kamigaito1 1Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science, RIKEN 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan 2 Frontier Materials Development Laboratories, Kaneka Corporation 5-1-1 Torikainishi, Settsu, Osaka 566-0072, Japan The rotating disk stripper[1] has been one of the essential elements in RIKEN RIBF for providing a stable high-intensity uranium (U) beam. This rotating stripper was developed on the assumption that a large carbon disk (C-disk) was applied as the stripping material to reduce a heat load of the passing beam by increasing the beam-irradiated area. However, no C-disk was applicable to the stripper at that time, because of its poor surface flatness and unexpected low density. Since 2012, The availability and intensity of the provided U beam have greatly enhanced, by adopting beryllium (Be) as the rotating disk material[2]. Nevertheless, since the U beam intensity incident on the stripper has increased because of the upgraded upstream instruments, the thermal stress by the beam load on the stripper deformed the Be-disk even in a short time operation, which caused fluctuation of the provided U beam intensity. Therefore, we reconsidered the possibility for using C-disk again, and tested a high-density highly oriented graphite (HDHOG) sheet[3] as a stripper disk. It was found that the HDHOG sheet can be applied to the stripper with better stripping efficiency and higher transmission value than Be-disk. Also, the lifetime of the HDHOG disk seems to be much longer than Be. The problem in the final stripping section has been solved and the recent results will be represented. References [1] H. Ryuto et al.: Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 569 (2008) 697. [2] H. Hasebe et al.: J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2015) 305:825–829 [3] A. Tatami et al.: Presentation will be held in this conference entitled “Preparation of multi-layer graphene sheets and their applications for particle accelerators”.

Speaker: Mr Hiroo Hasebe (RIKEN)

13:00 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 15:30 Session 10

Convener: Mrs Goedele Sibbens (JRC)

14:00 Preparation of multi-layer graphene sheets and their applications for particle accelerators

Particle accelerators have found wide success in physical, biological, and medical applications. Key elements in these accelerators are charge stripping foils for adjusting ion charge for good acceleration, and ion beam sensors for intensity distribution measurements. Conventional metal foils used for such purposes, however, have suffered from their low lifetime under high intensity ion beam irradiation. Here we introduce multi-layer graphene sheets as highly durable ion beam charge stripping foils and ion beam sensors. Multi-layer graphene sheets of 3 μm – 100 nm thickness were prepared by heat treatment of polymer films at temperatures above 3,000 oC. The sheets consist of highly-orientated graphite layers with good mechanical robustness. Key features of these sheets include their high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity in the in-plane direction. The sheets exhibit greater durability and lower energy loss relative to metal foils. A number of applications are currently being explored, and some examples include, particle accelerator related materials and thermal interface materials.

Speaker: Dr Atsushi Tatami (Kaneka Corporation)

14:30 Investigation of charge stripping scheme for uranium ions at 1-20 MeV/nucleon

Charge stripping is one of the essential topics in heavy ion acceleration. For efficient acceleration of heavy ions such as uranium (U), which has a large amount of electrons, the charge states after passing through a stripping material are crucial for the facility design, in terms of acceleration voltages and magnet specifications. Charge stripping sections for U acceleration are commonly installed where the stripping energies become 1-20 MeV/nucleon, because the mean charge state becomes almost doubled in this energy range if the incident charge state is around 30-35 [1]. Also, charge distributions after the stripping material are very important since the fraction of the desired charge state determines the beam intensity downstream and spoiled beam amount at the same time. This issue should be treated carefully in high-intensity beam facility because it can lead to unfavorable beam loss and radioactivation. Recently, a simulation for new U beam acceleration at J-PARC has been in progress [2], which is planning to achieve world highest intensity by a new booster synchrotron using multi-charge acceleration [3]. To realize this acceleration scheme, the charge distribution after the stripping section, which is located at the booster injection, is expected to have a distribution width as narrow as possible. Besides that, thickness of the stripping material should be thinner because the energy loss in the stripping material would be compensated by an auxiliary accelerating cavity. In this study, the optimized energy and stripping materials are searched in the cases of foils and gases, using the computed electron loss and capture cross sections as written in ref. [4]. The results and further potential using some auxiliary method such as laser excitation/stripping, plasma, etc. would be presented. [1] H. Kuboki et al., Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 14, 053502 (2011). [2] P.K. Saha, H. Harada, M. Kinsho, M. Yamamoto, and H. Sako, Proceedings of HIAT'15 (2015). [3] H. Harada et al., to be published. [4] H. Kuboki et al., Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 17, 123501 (2014).

Speaker: Dr Hironori Kuboki (KEK J-PARC)

15:30 → 16:00 Tea Break

16:00 → 16:30 Session 10b

Convener: Mrs Goedele Sibbens (JRC)

16:00 Germanium Thin Film Nano- and Micro-texturing Using Femtosecond Laser

Vacuum coating electron gun depositor was used to grow thin film of germanium on a Corning glass substrate. The deposition rate of the film was set to 10 Å/s with the chamber pressure settled at 2 × 10-7 mbar. The thickness of the grown film was measured to be 400 ± 2 nm, this was done using piezo-crystal thickness monitor in the deposition chamber. The film was then treated with a femtosecond laser with a fundamental wavelength of 1030 nm, the laser beam was defocused above the sample, such that the energetic laser photons were only sufficient to heat the surface of the film and were out of ablation regime. High-resolution scanning electron microscope micrographs show an evaluation of the surface morphology of the film as the laser fluence increases. X-ray diffraction study of the film revealed a formation of an oxide phase of germanium as evident from the emergence of the diffraction peaks due to oxidation. Reference: 1. L. Kotsedi, P. Mthunzi, Z.Y. Nuru, S.M. Eaton, P. Sechoghela, N. Mongwaketsi, R. Ramponi, M. Maaza “Femtosecond laser surface structuring of molybdenum thin films” Appl. Surf. Sci. 353, 1334-1341 (2015). 2. V. Veiko, G. Odintsova, Eduard Ageev, Y. Karlagina, A. Loginov, A. Skuratova, E. Gorbunova, “Controlled oxide films formation by nanosecond laser pulses for color marking” Opt. Express. Vol. 22, 20 (2014).

Speaker: Mr Lebogang Kotsedi (1 UNESCO-UNISA Africa Chair in Nanosciences-Nanotechnology, College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Muckleneuk ridge, PO Box 392, Pretoria-South Africa. 2 Nanosciences African Network (NANOAFNET), iThemba LABS-National Research Foundation, 1 Old Faure road, Somerset West 7129, PO Box 722, Somerset West, Western Cape Province, South Africa.)

19:00 → 23:00 Gala Dinner

Friday, 18 November

08:30 → 10:30 Session 11

Convener: Mr Dannie Steski (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

08:30 Investigation of 208PbS-Target on C-Backing

The structure of carbon layers is strongly dependent on the interlayer applied on the glass substrate and determines as a consequence the structure of the target layer deposited on the carbon backing. Standardly applied self-supporting foils are optimised for the major application. So at the GSI target laboratory carbon foils are perfected to withstand a highly intense heavy ion beam, either as stripper foil, as backing or as target. For most applications at GSI we use betaine-sucrose as parting agent since the durability of carbon such produced proved to be best suited for experiments in our heavy-ion accelerator. Betaine-sucrose produces a microscopically rough surface. For a special application, carbon backings with a very flat surface, microscopically as well as macroscopically are needed as target and as backing for enriched. For these targets we worked with different parting agents and different deposition processes. We report on the yield, on the structure of the carbon layers and the deposited target layer 208PbS in dependence of the parting agent, the thickness and the deposition methods.

Speaker: Dr Birgit Kindler (GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research GmbH)

09:00 Morphological and compositional study of 238U thin film targets for nuclear experiments

The uncertainty on the neutron cross sections strongly depends on the quality and characteristics of the deposited actinide films used as "targets" in the nuclear experiments. Until now, only the activity by alpha-particle counting, the isotopic composition by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry and the diameter of the actinide deposits were measured to determine the mass and areal density of the actinide layer. In this study a series of 238U deposits, prepared by molecular plating and vacuum deposition on different substrates, were characterized with non-destructive and destructive analysis techniques. The quality of the deposits was investigated by stereo microscopy, autoradiography, high-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The elemental composition was determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, depth profiling and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The latter technique was also applied on the starting U3O8 and converted UF4 powder. This paper compares the quality and morphology of the deposited 238U films prepared by molecular plating and vacuum deposition on various backings; the elemental composition determined by different characterization techniques and discusses problems in target preparation and characterization.

Speaker: Mrs Goedele Sibbens (European Commission - Joint Research Center - Directorate G)

09:30 Fabrication and characterization of carbon-backed thin 208Pb targets

Thin carbon-backed isotopically enriched 208Pb targets were required for our experiment aimed to study the reaction dynamics for 48Ti + 208Pb system, populating the near super-heavy nucleus 256Rf, through mass-energy correlation of the fission fragments. Purity and thickness of the targets are of utmost importance in such studies as these factors have strong influence on the measurement accuracy of mass and energy distribution of fission fragments. 208Pb targets with thickness ranging from 60 μg/cm2 to 250 μg/cm2 have been fabricated using physical vapor deposition method in high vacuum environment at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi. 208Pb was deposited using resistive heating method, whereas carbon (backing foil) deposition was performed using the electron gun bombardment technique. Different characterization techniques such as Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) were used to assert the purity and thickness of the targets. These targets have successfully been used to accomplish our experimental objectives.

Speaker: Ms Meenu Thakur (Department of Physics, Panjab University, Chandigarh - 160014, India)

10:30 → 11:00 Tea Break

11:00 → 12:00 Session 12

Convener: Dr Hironori Kuboki (KEK J-PARC)

11:00 Neutron tunneling in nanostructured systems: isotopical effect

The thin films technology has become more and more attractive for researchers. The interest is based on their potential applications in laser materials, solar cells etc. Thin films can be prepared by various method such as spray pyrolysis, pulsed laser etc. Enriched isotopes thin films of nickel will be deposited on silicon substrate as sandwich multilayers by using vacuum physical vapor deposition system equipped with electron beam. Thereafter, these isotopic nickel thin films are intended for use as Fabry-Perot resonators to observe the tunneling phenomenon of neutron wave-particles. If successful, this would be the proof of engineering novel neutron optics devices for neutron research reactor based completely on isotope nanostructures. The multilayered isotopically enriched nickel thin films will be characterized using XRD, AFM, X-ray reflectometry and grazing incidence neutron reflectometry Keywords: Isotope, Neutron tunneling, X-ray reflectometry, Fabry-Perot resonator

Speaker: Mr Aphiwe Matiwane (iThemba LABS)

11:30 Non-Contact Measurement of Thin Free-Standing Layer Targets with Chromatic Point Confocal Metrology

Optical metrology is amenable to characterizing thin and fragile targets in terms of thickness and surface roughness distribution. This presentation will detail a measurement setup that relies on a known axial chromatic spread of a broad, incoherent light source. With two of these point confocal sensors, a coordinate measurement machine has been build to metrologize thin film and multi-layer targets of both transparent and non-transparent materials.

Speaker: Dr Gabriel Schaumann (Technical University Darmstadt)

12:00 → 13:00 Closing Session

13:00 → 14:00 Lunch

14:00 → 17:00 Departure

14:00 → 17:00 INTDS Board Meeting