Encapsulated Sulfur targets for light ion beam experiments

¹ Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602 South Africa
² iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences, Old Faure Road Faure, Somerset West, PO Box 722 Somerset West, 7129, South Africa
³ University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
⁴ Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds (GANIL), Boulevard Henri Becquerel, 14000 Caen, France
⁵ University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
⁶ University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Rd, Bellville, Cape Town, 7535

^* Corresponding author: sandilej@tlabs.ac.za

Published online: 28 February 2020

Abstract

A new method was developed to produce enriched Sulfur targets with minimum loss of material. This was made possible by inserting Sulfur in-between two 0.5 μm Mylar foils (C10H8O4). The initial aim was to ensure that the Sulfur targets reduce by no more than 50% of the initial thickness within 24 hours under the equivalent of 10 J/cm² of integrated energy deposition by an energetic (Eb > 50 MeV) proton beam. There is no loss of enriched material while making the target, as all the material is deposited within the surface area to be exposed to the beam. During beam irradiation, the targets were frequently swivelled in order to expose each part of the target to the beam and achieve homogeneous irradiation. Targets of 0.4 mg/cm² thickness were produced and characterised using ion beam analysis technique with a 3 MeV proton beam.