Calorimetric low temperature detectors for low-energetic heavy ions and their application in accelerator mass spectrometry

Author(s)

Sakia Kraft-Bermuth, V. A. Andrianov, A Bleile, Artur Echler, Peter Egelhof, Anna Kiseleva, Oleg Kiselev, H J Meier, J P Meier, A Shrivastava, M Weber, Robin Golser, Walter Kutschera, Alfred Priller, Peter Steier, Christof Vockenhuber

Abstract

The energy-sensitive detection of heavy ions with calorimetric low temperature detectors was investigated in the energy range of E=0.1-1 MeV/amu, commonly used for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The detectors used consist of sapphire absorbers and superconducting aluminum transition edge thermometers operated at T approximately 1.5 K. They were irradiated with various ion beams (13C, 197Au, 238U) provided by the VERA tandem accelerator in Vienna, Austria. The relative energy resolution obtained was DeltaE/E=(5-9) x 10(-3), even for the heaviest ions such as 238U. In addition, no evidence for a pulse height defect was observed. This performance allowed for the first time to apply a calorimetric low temperature detector in an AMS experiment. The aim was to precisely determine the isotope ratio of 236U/238U for several samples of natural uranium, 236U being known as a sensitive monitor for neutron fluxes. Replacing a conventionally used detection system at VERA by the calorimetric detector enabled to substantially reduce background from neighboring isotopes and to increase the detection efficiency. Due to the high sensitivity achieved, a value of 236U/238U=6.1 x 10(-12) could be obtained, representing the smallest 236U/238U ratio measured at the time. In addition, we contributed to establishing an improved material standard of 236U/238U, which can be used as a reference for future AMS measurements.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

External organisation(s)

GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung

Journal

Review of Scientific Instruments

Volume

80

No. of pages

9

ISSN

0034-6748

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3213622

Publication date

2009

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

1030 Physics, Astronomy

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/045234c9-43c6-4952-b662-12096a87ec92