Title :
Development of a tritium accelerator mass spectrometer
Author :
Cutchin, J. ; King, S. ; Phillips, G. ; August, R. ; Gerber, J. ; Castaneda, C.
Author_Institution :
Sachs/Freeman Associates Inc., Landover, MD, USA
Abstract :
An accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) for direct atom counting of tritium has been developed using the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory´s (CNL) 76-in sector-focused cyclotron. Tritons were accelerated to 6.2 MeV and detected in a silicon Delta E-E charged-particle telescope. A detection efficiency of 2.4*10/sup -5/ was achieved with the smallest sample detected, which contained 2.6 mBq (70 fCi) of tritium at a T/H ratio of 3.7*10/sup -13/. Counting times were 3 to 6 min, with smaller samples requiring less time. This technique greatly reduces counting times and sample sizes from that required in existing beta -decay detection of ambient levels of tritium.<>
Keywords :
mass spectrometers; tritium; 2.6 mBq; 3 to 6 min; 6.2 MeV; T; accelerator mass spectrometer; counting times; direct atom counting; sample sizes; sector-focused cyclotron; Acceleration; Atomic measurements; Cyclotrons; Gases; Hydrogen; Ion sources; Mass spectroscopy; Particle accelerators; Sea measurements; Valves;
Journal_Title :
Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on