Speaker
Description
The IFIN-HH Target Laboratory team has successfully produced high-quality targets for a wide range of experiments conducted at the 9 MV Tandem accelerator facility, using the laboratory’s existing infrastructure.
Recently, for the preparation of isotopically enriched solid oxygen targets (Ta₂¹⁸O₅) which are used in nuclear physics experiments, a dedicated anodization system inspired by the set-up from Laboratory Nationali del Gran Sasso - INFN (Italy). The system is based on an electrolyte consisting of 18O isotopically enriched water. By varying the applied voltage within the 200–550 V range, Ta₂¹⁸O₅ layers of different thicknesses and similar elemental composition were obtained. The anodization method proved to be efficient, cost-effective and reproducible, allowing the reuse of isotopically enriched water and the production of high-purity targets, which are essential for nuclear physics experiments [1-3].
The obtained targets were characterized using various techniques (such as RBS, SEM/EDS, XRD) in order to determine properties such as thickness, surface morphology, uniformity, and crystal structure.
[1] A. Caciolli et al, “Preparation and characterisation of isotopically enriched Ta2O5 targets for nuclear astrophysics studies” European Physical Journal A, 48, 144 (2012), DOI 10.1140/epja/i2012-12144-0.
[2] D. A. Yermilyea, “The kinetics of formation and structure of anodic oxide films on tantalum”, Acta Metallurgica, Volume 1, Issue 3 (1953), 282-291, 293-294
[3] M.P. Seah, M.W. Holbourn, C. Ortega, and J.A. Davies, “An intercomparison of tantalum pentoxide reference studies”, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 30 (1988) 128-139