Search results for "Thermal ionization"
showing 10 items of 55 documents
Optimization of a laser ion source for $^{163}$Ho isotope separation
2019
To measure the mass of the electron neutrino, the “Electron Capture in Holmium-163” (ECHo) collaboration aims at calorimetrically measuring the spectrum following electron capture in 163Ho. The success of the ECHo experiment depends critically on the radiochemical purity of the 163Ho sample, which is ion-implanted into the calorimeters. For this, a 30 kV high transmission magnetic mass separator equipped with a resonance ionization laser ion source is used. To meet the ECHo requirements, the ion source unit was optimized with respect to its thermal characteristics and material composition by means of the finite element method thermal-electric calculations and chemical equilibrium simulation…
Charge breeding at GANIL: Improvements, results, and comparison with the other facilities
2019
International audience; The 1+/n+ method, based on an ECRIS charge breeder (CB) originally developed at the LPSC laboratory, is now implemented at GANIL for the production of Radioactive Ion Beams (RIBs). Prior to its installation in the middle of the low energy beam line of the SPIRAL1 facility, the 1+/n+ system CB has been modified based on the experiments performed on the CARIBU Facility at Argone National Laboratory. Later, it has been tested at the 1+/n+ LPSC test bench to validate its operation performances. Charge breeding efficiencies as well as charge breeding times have been measured for noble gases and alkali elements. The commissioning phase started at GANIL in the second half-y…
Semi-Empirical Calculations of Hole Polarons in MgO and KNbO3 Crystals
1998
The semi-empirical quantum chemical INDO method has been used for cluster and large unit cell calculations of hole polarons bound to a cation vacancy in highly ionic MgO and partly covalent perovskite KNbO 3 . In both cases a hole is well localized on an oxygen atom displaced towards the vacancy. The calculated optical and thermal ionization energies for V - and V 0 centers are in excellent agreement with experimental data for MgO. In KNbO 3 we predict the existence of one-site and two-site (molecular) polarons with close absorption energies (1 e V). The relevant experimental data are discussed.
230Th/U-dating of a late Holocene low uranium speleothem from Cuba
2010
We present 22 U-series ages for a stalagmite from north-western Cuba based on multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS). Our results reveal that the stalagmite continuously grew within the last ~1400a. Low uranium content of the sample and thus, extremely low 230Th concentrations limit the precision and accuracy of 230Th/U-dating by TIMS. Samples measured by MC-ICPMS show a high variability of 232Th content along the growth axis with some sections significantly affected by initial 230Th from a detrital phase. An a-priori bulk earth ratio for (238U/232Th) cannot be used to accurately account for this initial 230Th.…
Internal ion impact ionization for Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance
1994
A general scheme for ionization and fragmentation of ions in Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICRMS) is introduced. The technique is based upon excitation of high-frequency (i.e. lowmass) primary ions (e.g. N, Al+, H2O+·) which may be generated by standard ionization methods (e.g. electron ionization or laser desorption) inside the trap. Generation of the primary ions is followed by excitation of their cyclotron motion to high translational energy to serve as projectile ions. The projectiles serve two functions: to ionize neutral gas atoms and/or molecules (secondary ions) within the trap internal ion impact ionization (IIII), and to collisionally activate the…
Determination of the first ionization potential of actinide elements by resonance ionization mass spectroscopy
1997
Abstract Resonance ionization mass spectroscopy (RIMS) in the presence of an external static electric field has been used for the determination of photoionization thresholds. Extrapolation of the thresholds obtained with different electric field strengths to zero field strength directly leads to the first ionization potential (IP). The ionization potentials of the transplutonium elements americium, curium, berkelium and californium could be measured for the first time. Due to the high sensitivity of RIMS, samples of only 1012 atoms have been used. The results are: IPAm = 5.9738(2)eV, IPCm = 5.9915(2)eV, IPBk = 6.1979(2)eV and IPCf = 6.2817(2)eV. The same technique was applied to thorium, ne…
Determination of a three-step excitation and ionization scheme for resonance ionization and ultratrace analysis of Np-237
2011
Abstract The long-lived radio isotope 237 Np is generated within the nuclear fuel cycle and represents a major hazard in the final disposal of nuclear waste. Related geochemical research requires sensitive methods for the detection of ultratrace amounts of neptunium in environmental samples. Resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) has proven to be one of the most sensitive methods for the detection of plutonium. A precondition for the application of RIMS to ultratrace analysis of neptunium is the knowledge of an efficient and selective scheme for optical excitation and ionization. Therefore, a multitude of medium to high-lying atomic levels in neptunium was located by applying in-sour…
Determination of the first ionization potential of einsteinium by resonance ionization mass spectroscopy (RIMS)
1998
Abstract The first ionization potential of einsteinium (IP Es ) was determined by resonance ionization mass spectroscopy (RIMS) using samples with ≤10 12 atoms of 254 Es ( T 1/2 =276 days). This method is based on the measurement of photoionization thresholds as a function of applied electric field strength, followed by extrapolation to zero field strength to yield IP Es . An atomic beam of Es was created by heating a filament on which einsteinium was electrodeposited from an aqueous solution onto a tantalum backing and covered with titanium metal. Es atoms were ionized via a three-step excitation scheme, and the ions mass-selectively detected in a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. Th…
Determination of the first ionization potential of nine actinide elements by resonance ionization mass spectroscopy (RIMS)
1998
The high sensitivity of RIMS enables the precise determination of the first ionization potential of actinide elements with a sample size of ≤1012 atoms. By multiple resonant laser excitation, the actinide atoms under investigation are ionized in the presence of an electric field, and the ions are mass-selectively detected in a time-of-flight spectrometer. The first ionization potential is obtained by scanning the wavelength of the laser used for the last excitation step across the ionization threshold Wth—indicated by a sudden increase of the ion count rate—at various electric field strengths. Extrapolation of Wth to electric field strength zero leads directly to the first ionization potent…
Properties and performance of a quadrupole mass filter used for resonance ionization mass spectrometry
1998
Abstract The performance of commercial quadrupole mass spectrometers (QMS) with a number of imperfections, as compared to the ideal hyperbolic geometry, has been characterized using the computer simulation program simion 3d version 6.0. The analysis of simulated QMS geometries focuses primarily on modeling of the internal potential, the study of field deviations, and the influence of finite length on performance of the QMS. The computer simulation of ion trajectories in the QMS field yields predictions for optimum working conditions and provides estimates for the resolving power and the maximum isotopic abundance sensitivity. Experimental measurements that confirm these expectations are pre…