University of Zululand
Development of a laser ionization test bench for radioactive ion beams
Abstract
dc:description.abstractThis thesis aims to develop the technique for selective laser ionization of atoms and the role it can play in the production of radioactive ion beams. The theory of the production of radioactive ion beams and resonant laser ionization using different techniques will be discussed. Furthermore, the Isotope Separation On-Line method will be comprehensively discussed and the requirements needed for the development of a laser ion source will be summarized. The selective laser ionization of atoms will be demonstrated using two different techniques, laser-enhanced ionization in gas and using a time-of-_flight mass spectrometer. In laser-enhanced ionization in gas, atoms will be ejected into a flame via a device called a nebulizer where the atoms will be excited by two-step excitation followed by collisional ionization in the flame. The signal obtained will be fed onto a "boxcar" for data processing and analysing. In time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, a collimated beam of stable atoms will be created and the detailed design and construction of the atomic beam source and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer will be shown. Two-step ionization of atoms will be used to ionize the created beam and the ionized atoms will be accelerated twice by electric fields, after which they will enter a free-field region and they will be separated according to their mass to charge ratio. The interpretation of the results obtained will conclude the thesis and future prospects for the project will be given.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher.institution
- University of Zululand
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2013
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Makhathini, Lucky Maxwell
- Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
-
- Bark, R.A.
- Ndwandwe, O.M.