Development of Thin Refractory Actinide Plates for High Power RIB Targets

The performance of the target is essential for the successful operation of a RIB (Radioactive Ion Beam) facility. The target must have fast release to allow short-lived isotopes to be available for experiments, and it has to be able to withstand the power that will be deposited in the bulk of the target material. The availability of thin plates of refractory actinides, with high density and high thermal conductivity, would be highly desirable for RIB facilities. Targets built with these plates can provide high yields in the spallation and fission mass regions, providing a wide variety of isotopes to be used in nuclear physics experiments. This project will develop and test procedures for fabricating thin plates of refractory actinides. In particular, the fabrication technique will seek to optimize the particular combination of properties that are needed for specific isotopes of interest. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: High density, fast release, thin plates of refractory actinides would be used in targets for advanced nuclear physics studies at rare isotope beam facilities. These techniques also are likely to be useful in medical isotope production.