Development of a NiO target for the production of 11C at ISAC/TRIUMF

High intensity C-11 beams are necessary for the investigation of the formation of C-12 via the nuclear reaction C-11(p, gamma)N-12 -> C-12 + e(+) + nu. The production of intense carbon beams on-line is quite challenging due to the thermodynamic properties and chemical reactivity of carbon at high temperatures. A previous attempt, using a medical isotope cyclotron production method in batch mode, was not conclusive. The intensity obtained was at least one order of magnitude too low for a direct proton capture experiment using the DRAGON facility at ISAC/TRIUMF. Producing a C-11 beams using the ISOL method requires a target capable of efficiently releasing the carbon isotopes. NiO has been selected as a target material because most of the nickel carbides are not stable at high temperature. The development of carbon beams using a composite NiO/Ni target on-line is described. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.