First application of calorimetric low-temperature detectors in accelerator mass spectrometry

S Kraft, V. A. Andrianov, A Bleile, Peter Egelhof, Robin Golser, Anna Kiseleva, Oleg Kiselev, Walter Kutschera, J P Meier, Alfred Priller, A Shrivastava, Peter Steier, Christof Vockenhuber

    Publications: Contribution to bookContribution to proceedings

    Abstract

    For the first time, calorimetric low-temperature detectors were applied in accelerator mass spectrometry, a well-known method for determination of very small isotope ratios with high sensitivity. The aim of the experiment was to determine with high accuracy the isotope ratio of 236U/ 238U for several samples of natural uranium, 236U being known as a sensitive monitor for neutron flux. Measurements were performed at the VERA tandem accelerator at Vienna, Austria. The detectors consist of sapphire absorbers and superconducting transition edge thermometers operated at T? 1.5K. The relative energy resolution obtained for 17.39MeV 238U is ?E/E=4-9 × 10-3, depending on the experimental conditions. This performance enabled to substantially reduce background from neighbouring isotopes and to increase the detection efficiency. Due to the high sensitivity achieved, a value of 236U/ 238U=6.5×10-12 could be obtained, representing the smallest 236U/238U ratio measured until now. Œ 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Low Temperature Detectors
    PublisherElsevier BV, North-Holland
    Pages63-66
    Number of pages4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2004

    Publication series

    SeriesNuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A. Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment
    Number1-3
    Volume520
    ISSN0168-9002

    Austrian Fields of Science 2012

    • 1030 Physics, Astronomy

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