Zr/Nb isobar separation experiment for future ⁹³Zr AMS measurement

Author(s)

W. Lu, T. Anderson, M. Bowers, W. Bauder, P. Collon, W. Kutschera, Y. Kashiv, J. Lachner, M. Martschini, K. Ostdiek, D. Robertson, C. Schmitt, M. Skulski, P. Steier

Abstract

⁹³Zr (t_1/2 = 1.6 Ma) is mostly produced by the main s-process in low-to-intermediate mass AGB stars. Large uncertainty exists in the current ⁹²Zr(n,γ)⁹³Zr Maxwellian Average cross section. This could have significant impact on nucleosynthesis calculations. Large amounts of ⁹³Zr are also produced in nuclear reactors and pose long-term environmental radioactivity. Hence, measurement of ⁹³Zr by the AMS is important for both fields above. We report here on progress in the development of AMS method to measure ⁹³Zr.

Compared with 98 MeV beam energy, Zr/Nb isobar position separation was

improved using 155.2 MeV beam energy and Gas-Filled Magnet. Energy loss

measurement with increased beam energy inside the detector indicates

that higher beam energy can improve isobar energy loss separation. A

chemical procedure to reduce the Nb content in Zr samples has been

developed and tested. It reduces the ⁹³Nb content by a factor of 1000.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

External organisation(s)

University of Notre Dame

Journal

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B. Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms

Volume

361

Pages

491-495

No. of pages

5

ISSN

0168-583X

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2015.01.071

Publication date

10-2015

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103013 Ion physics

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Instrumentation

Portal url

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/33d886a4-aa67-4d56-8f4d-7c3f93e2a89a