AMS measurements in nuclear physics and astrophysics at VERA

Author(s)

Anton Wallner, Oliver Forstner, Robin Golser, Walter Kutschera, Alfred Priller, Peter Steier

Abstract

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) represents a powerful technique with
excellent sensitivity for the detection of long-lived radionuclides through ultra-low isotope ratio measurements. Research activities using AMS cover a wide variety of domains, e.g. 14C dating, geological, biomedical applications, environ-mental and climate studies, and also nuclear physics related measurements.
The Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator (VERA) represents a state-of-the-art AMS facility active in a wide range of such applications. In particular, a substantial part is devoted to nuclear physics and astrophysics applications. AMS being independent on half-lives offers a powerful technique for such investigations. The measurement of neutron and proton capture cross-sections has become one main research topic at VERA. Various samples have been
irradiated for that purpose. After the activation the amount of longer-lived radionuclides was quantified using the technique of AMS. In a fusion environment particularly long-lived activation products may lead to significant long-term waste disposals. For such nuclides production cross-sections and induced activities are key parameters for safety and design analyses. The quantification of actinides via AMS is not affected by isobaric molecular
interferences. Different kinds of sources producing actinides are reflected in different signatures of e.g. Pu isotopes, like isotopic ratios and concentration levels. This information allows to identify human activity and to reconstruct its neutron history in environmental samples. Also, AMS is applied for searching for feeble traces of long-lived radionuclides as signatures of recent close-by supernova explosions.
An overview on recent research activities at VERA with respect to nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics is presented. In addition, the actual detection limits for long-lived radionuclides are given.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

Pages

107-112

No. of pages

6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.2787/36236

Publication date

2011

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103005 Atomic physics

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/ams-measurements-in-nuclear-physics-and-astrophysics-at-vera(2fdb2d8d-9544-4854-b13e-5fcedc2feb98).html