Determination of the first ionization potential of berkelium and californium by resonance ionization mass spectroscopy

Journal Article · Wed Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.52192· OSTI ID:21165678

Nunnemann, M; Eberhardt, K; Erdmann, N; Herrmann, G; Huber, G; Koehler, S; Kratz, J V; Naehler, A; Passler, G; Trautmann, N ^[1]

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1. Institut fuer Physick, Universitaet Mainz, D-55099 Mainz (Germany)

Resonance ionization mass spectroscopy (RIMS) is used for the precise determination of the first ionization potential (IP) of transuranium elements. Small amounts of material ({approx_equal}0.4 ng) are sufficient for these measurements due to the high sensitivity of RIMS enabling the investigation of the actinides beyond plutonium, which are accessible only in limited amounts and difficult to handle due to their high radioactivity. The method presented takes advantage of the dependence of the ionization threshold on an external static electric field. With samples of 10{sup 12} atoms of {sup 249}Bk and {sup 249}Cf experimental values for the first ionization potentials of IP{sub Bk}=49989(2) cm{sup -1} and IP{sub Cf}=50665(2) cm{sup -1} were obtained.

• OSTI ID: 21165678
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 388; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ATOMS
BERKELIUM
BERKELIUM 249
CALIFORNIUM
CALIFORNIUM 249
ELECTRIC FIELDS
IONIZATION
IONIZATION POTENTIAL
PLUTONIUM
RESONANCE IONIZATION MASS SPECTROSCOPY
SENSITIVITY