Tritium measurements by nuclear reaction analysis using 3He beam in the energy range between 0.7 MeV and 5.1 MeV

Abstract

A solid thick tritiated W sample was produced in order to probe the efficiency of detecting tritium via 3He ion beam using nuclear reactions analysis (NRA). Extensive literature search showed that there were only a few measurements done more than sixty years ago using the reaction with 3He. Their aim was mainly to measure the absolute cross section of the reaction. In order to use this reaction as an analysing tool for low level radioactive waste we need the differential cross section at certain angles. Using a thick tritiated W sample we measured the NRA signal in the 3He energy range from 0.7 MeV to 5.1 MeV and we have detected reaction products with energies between 6.5 MeV and 9.75 MeV that were not present on a deuterated W sample prepared in the same manner. This NRA signal proved to be due to deuterium and protons coming from the nuclear reaction between tritium and 3He. The detection signal increased with 3He energy up to 3.4 MeV and decreased with energy at the highest beam energies. At higher energies particles from W and target impurities start to disturb the measurement. Their origin might be due to other nuclear reactions, for example between 3He and W or 3He with 13C or 14N.

Keywords

• Tritium
• Nuclear reaction analysis
• 3-Helium
• Cross section