Determination of the detection limit of 59Ni at the Lund AMS facility by using characteristic projectile X-rays

Abstract

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an ultra-sensitive method for counting atoms, both radionuclides and stable nuclides. When using small tandem accelerators to measure heavy isotopes, interfering isobars are often troublesome. One way to reduce this interference is to combine AMS with the detection of characteristic X-rays of the projectile. After analysis in the AMS system it is possible to identify ions of different atomic number by their characteristic X-rays, by slowing down the ions in a suitable target. In this paper, the detection limit of 59Ni at the Lund AMS facility is reported. A method for the chemical extraction of nickel from stainless steel, combined with a purification step to reduce the cobalt content in the sample by several orders of magnitude, is also described.