A new technique for making enriched rare-earth mental plate targets

Abstract

A new method for making isotopically enriched rare-earth metal plate targets such as 142Nd, 158Gd, 164Dy, and 166Er, for use in neutrino mass measurements as well as other experiments, was developed. The preparation method is very simple and involves the fluorination of rare-earth oxide powders followed by a Ca reduction using RF heating. The resulting metal was pressed with a hot-press device in an argon atmosphere and rolled into large area plates with areal densities greater than or equal to 85 mg/cm 2. A detailed description of the preparation processes is given as well as the estimation of their efficiencies.