Experiments with the surface ionization integrated target-ion source of the solis

Abstract

An integrated target-ion source for surface ionization was developed for routine operation at temperatures as high as 1900°C. The release of fission products from the source was found to be well represented by a single exponent function of time. Delay half-times were determined as a function of temperature for Rb and Cs isotopes. Values observed at 1850°C were 0.5 s for Rb and Cs and greater than 200 and 300 s for Sr and Ba isotopes, respectively. The high temperatures attained facilitated the measurements of short-lived activities of 94–98Rb, 94–98Sr, 96Y, 143–146Cs, 143–148Ba and 146–148La with half-lives extending from 80 to 0.1 s. The main characteristics of the source, such as delay times, efficiency and selectivity of separation of alkalis and alkaline earths are discussed.