Modeling and production of 240Am by deuteron-induced activation of a 240Pu target

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 349:39-44

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2015.02.001· OSTI ID:1221459

Finn, Erin C.; McNamara, Bruce K.; Greenwood, Lawrence R.; Wittman, Richard S.; Soderquist, Chuck Z.; Woods, Vincent T.; VanDevender, Brent A.; Metz, Lori A.; Friese, Judah I.

A novel reaction pathway for production of 240Am is reported. Models of reaction cross-sections in EMPIRE II suggests that deuteron-induced activation of a 240Pu target produces maximum yields of 240Am from 11.5 MeV incident deuterons. This activation had not been previously reported in the literature. A 240Pu target was activated under the modeled optimum conditions to produce 240Am. The modeled cross-section for the 240Pu(d, 2n)240Am reaction is on the order of 20-30 mbarn, but the experimentally estimated value is 5.3 ± 0.2 mbarn. We discuss reasons for the discrepancy as well as production of other Am isotopes that contaminate the final product.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1221459
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-104002; 400403909
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 349:39-44, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B, Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, 349:39-44
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

240Am
deuteron
cross-section