Encapsulated Sulfur targets for light ion beam experiments

Sandile Jongile,Ntombizonke Kheswa,Lucky Makhathini,Mathis Wiedeking,Sinegugu Mthembu,Olivier Sorlin,Makuhane Sithole,Antoine Lemasson,Bonginkosi Kheswa,Fhumulani Nemulodi,Christiaan Brits,Paul Papka,Bongani Maqabuka

doi:10.1051/epjconf/202022903004

Sandile Jongile, Ntombizonke Kheswa + Show 11 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202022903004

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Abstract

A new method was developed to produce enriched Sulfur targets with minimum loss of material. This was made possible by inserting Sulfur in-between two 0.5 μm Mylar foils (C10H8O4). The initial aim was to ensure that the Sulfur targets reduce by no more than 50% of the initial thickness within 24 hours under the equivalent of 10 J/cm2 of integrated energy deposition by an energetic (Eb > 50 MeV) proton beam. There is no loss of enriched material while making the target, as all the material is deposited within the surface area to be exposed to the beam. During beam irradiation, the targets were frequently swivelled in order to expose each part of the target to the beam and achieve homogeneous irradiation. Targets of 0.4 mg/cm2 thickness were produced and characterised using ion beam analysis technique with a 3 MeV proton beam.

Highlights

Sulfur targets for energetic light ion beam experiments using direct reaction measurements pose certain challenges
Elemental Sulfur targets cannot be produced as self-supporting and this element sublimes rapidly in vacuum when subjected to energy deposition during beam bombardment
When less abundant Sulphur isotopes (33, 34, 36S) are required financial implications may limit the amount of material that is available

Summary

Introduction

Sulfur targets for energetic light ion beam experiments using direct reaction measurements pose certain challenges. The cross sections for scattering of the projectile are high which is detrimental to charged particles detectors To this respect, a method developed by Hogenbirk et al [6] consisted of sandwiching evaporated Sulfur between evaporated layers and encapsulated between carbon foils. In this paper an alternative method to Sulfur evaporation was investigated to make the best use of enriched Sulfur material using direct powder deposition between Mylar foils. This development was undertaken to perform a nuclear physics measurement using the 36S(p,d) reaction at Elab = 66 MeV with a high resolution magnetic spectrometer at iThemba LABS [7]

Production of targets

Results

Conclusion