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.
Revised: September 16, 2015 |
Published: February 1, 2015
Citation
Finn E.C., B.K. McNamara, L.R. Greenwood, R.S. Wittman, C.Z. Soderquist, V.T. Woods, and B.A. VanDevender, et al. 2015.Modeling and production of 240Am by deuteron-induced activation of a 240Pu target.Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms 349.PNNL-SA-104002.doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2015.02.001