Design considerations for a system to investigate short-lived nuclei produced at a reactor

Abstract

A system for the precision study of the nuclear decays of shortlived nuclei produced by neutron irradiation is described. The system a s envisioned will employ continuous introduction of irradiated material into the ion source of an electromagnetic isotope separator and subsequent operation of the separator i n connection with nuclear decay analysis apparatus. The results of a n empirical study a r e presented regarding the characteristics of a vapor transport line used for the extraction of irradiated material from the vicinity of the reactor c 6 r e and Lrdrrspol-t to t h o isotope eeparator ion source. Of particular interest in this study a r e the transit times achieved with the system and properties ol tlre system associated with the presence of electrical mn-A discharge i n the vapor transport line. Extensions of the results of : %', ib this study to an actual system a r e discussed.'present address :

Use of Thermochromatography for Rapid Chemical Separations

“…The target system may Single out just one element in a wide mass ränge (cf. the lead target used at ISOLDE [2] for the production of mercury isotopes and the uranium stearate target of TRISTAN [3] for the production of krypton and xenon isotopes), or an element Separation may be accomplished by a selective ionizing method such as surface ionization for alkalies [4]. In these cases isotopically pure samples are obtained except for the growing-in of radioactive dau^ters.…”

Study of electron emissions of some mass separated fission product activities

“…The isotope separator itself has been described previously in several publications (21,24,25,26). Therefore, only a brief description will be given here.…”

The nuclear decays of Zr97 and Nb97

“…The chamber was designed to be used, if desired, with an electromagnetic isotope separator used at the Ames Laboratory Research Reactor (65,66). A port [7] was made in the chamber cylinder wall to mount the chamber to one of the exits of the beam switching raaanet of the isotope separator; the separator ion beam may enter this port and be deposited on a collector [6] at the center of the chamber.…”