$^{23}$Ne Production at SARAF-I

TL;DR

This paper reports on the measurement of flow rate, yield, and effusion time of a $^{23}$Ne production and transport system using an accelerator-driven neutron source and detection methods, providing detailed efficiency and rate estimates.

Contribution

It presents the first detailed measurement and analysis of $^{23}$Ne production, transport, and decay detection parameters using a novel neutron source and experimental setup.

Findings

Flow rate of $6.9 imes 10^4$ atoms/sec measured.

Total yield of $3.2 imes 10^{-9}$ atoms per deuteron determined.

Methodology for estimating efficiencies and production rates summarized.

Abstract

In this article, we present a measurement of flow rate, yield and effusion time of a $^{23}$Ne production and transport system. We used an accelerator-driven Li(d,n) neutron source to produce neutrons up to 20 MeV. The radioactive atoms were produced by a $^{23}$Na(n,p) reaction at a NaCl target. Later, the atoms were diffused out from the NaCl crystals and effused from the production chamber via a 10 m hose to a measurement cell and their decay products were detected using high purity germanium (HPGe) and plastic scintillator detectors. The resulting flow rate was $6.9\pm0.5\cdot 10^4\sfrac{atoms}{sec}$ and the total yield was $3.2\pm0.4\cdot10^{-9}\sfrac{atoms}{deuteron}$. We summarize our methods and estimates of efficiencies, rates of production and effusion.