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High pressure, modular gas target for radioisotope production

William Z. Gelbart

1. Introduction
Many radioisotopes are produced by the irradiation of a gaseous-phase target material. The design of gas targets for radioisotope production present a combination of unique challenges, not encountered in other targetry systems. One of the most conflicting design parameters is the desire to increase the beam current and target gas pressure while marinating a relatively thin, transparent barrier between the gas and the beamline vacuum. Thin metallic foils are almost exclusively used as beam windows. There are many configurations and design variables that can influence the window performance. In this design we introduced some new ideas, while maintaining the well established principles. Windows absorb some of the beam energy and at higher beam currents can sustain heat damage, unless cooled. Again, some old and some new strategies are incorporated in the window cooling scheme. And, finally, by designing individual modules rather then a dedicated and all contained target, a higher degree of application flexibility and serviceability is achieved. One benefit of such an arrangement is the ease of mixing and joining of the standard modules to construct a multi compartment target with graduated pressure regions; thus allowing the containment of high pressure gas while maintaining thin windows. More on that later.

2. Windows
Finding the perfect target window is a process similar to the finding a perfect spouse; about impossible. But we can, and do, compromise. An ideal window would be strong (especially at elevated temperatures), thin, good heat conductor and having a low density and atomic mass. In some cases chemical compatibility, corrosion resistance and other consideration has to be taken into account as well. Lets look at those requirements for a moment. Accelerators produce a particle beam, of a roughly circular cross-section, typically a centimeter or two in diameter. Passing through the target window large part of the beam is stopped in the gas. In most cases it important to maximize the production yields by having as much irradiated parent product mass as possible. In a gas target this translates into a high pressure or increased length. Amplified pressure is the better solution of the two. Having a short target is a definite advantage (in contrast with other disciplines where length is considered an advantage) in terms of space, activation of the target body and the fact that the beam quickly diverges in a gas, crating a conical rather then the, initial, cylindrical envelope. To compensate for the conical shape a long target must assume a

corresponding shape, increasing its volume considerably (in many cases, the cost of the parent gas rules out such high volumes). In a high pressure environment, most of the beam is absorbed in a short distance allowing us to ignore the divergence of the small remnant. So here is our first conflict. In order to withstand high pressure the window needs to be stronger; increased strength means increased thickness and that in turn higher absorption of beam and increase in heat. A common solution is to use a strong metal foil for a window. In addition to metals such as Niobium and Tungsten, alloys like Inconel, Monel and Havar, 10 to 50 micron thick have been successfully employed for that purpose. The target gas will provide some convective cooling, but for higher beam currents forced cooling is essential.

3. Helium cooling
Active cooling can be achieved by creating a separate chamber in front of the target. High thermal conductivity gas, like Helium, can be circulated in the chamber to cool the window. Of course an additional window to confine the Helium is required, but not only both windows can be cooled at the same time with the Helium flow, but the pressure inside this chamber can be half of the target gas pressure; with each window consequently having to withstand only this reduced pressure. This concept can be extended to more Helium chamber with corresponding pressure drops (Fig.1).

Fig. 1
Dual Helium-chamber target

For maximum cooling efficiency the Helium jet is aimed directly at the window. Injection orifices of the proper geometry are inserted in the Helium entrance port. The

returning gas has to be cooled before re-injection. Water-cooled heat exchanger is fairly efficient, but much lower temperatures can be achieved with a cryogenic compressor. In fact a regular cryogenic-pump unit can be used for this purpose. Some pressure balancing on the intake and output of the compressor might be required to bring the pressures near the compressors operating range.

4. Windows construction.
In the past twenty tears, flat windows were exclusively used for the gas targets. This was in part for sake of simplicity and in part for historical reasons. The foil was typically clamped between two seals, but welding was used as well in some instances. While simple to produce, the flat geometry lacks the strength of a spherical shape (Fig.2).

Fig. 2
Nonlinear stress analysis, under same conditions, in domed (left) and flat windows. One quarter of each window shown.

To produce spherical windows, a hydraulic forming technique was devised (Fig.3). Starting with an annealed window material the appropriate form is achieved, while the window reaches its full temper from work hardening. The resulting cross section of the window is especially suitable for its application in gas targets with the edges thicker and the centre, where the beam intensity peaks, is thinner.

Fig.3
Hydraulic die for shaping the window material. The thickness of the window material is exaggerated.

The windows can be electroplated with silver or copper to help heat conduction. 5 to 10 micron thickness has little effect on the beam, but helps cooling. In the electroplating process a very thin Nickel transition strike is used to achieve good adhesion between the base metal and the silver or copper plate. Finally, the formed and plated window is electron beam welded to Conflat flange, thus producing a simple, modular unit (Fig.4)

Fig. 4
Preformed foil blanks, some plated, and an EB welded target-window assembly.

5. Target construction
In addition to the windows, two more elements are necessary to complete the target, the body and a beam stop. The target body is simply a tubular section, of the appropriate length, with a flange welded at each end. The material choice depends on the target gas, process employed, and other consideration. From the activation point of view pure Aluminum is the preferable choice. The gas contacting surfaces can be electroplated with a suitable material, compatible with the product. Conical, or stepped, targets were fabricated in an attempt to conform more closely to the beam shape. While this is less of a concern in a high pressure target, a similar effect can be obtained, if desired, by coupling together shorter sections of increasing diameters; thus emulating the complicated stepped shape while retaining the modular approach. The unused portion of the beam energy is stopped in a water cooled beam stop. Made of high purity Aluminum, of an adequate thickness to stop the beam, it can utilize a radial or axial water flow for cooling. Surfaces exposed to the target gas have to be treated in the same way as the target body. In some cases the superfluous beam is used to produce additional, different, radioisotopes by constricting a piggyback target at the beam stop. The modular design makes this much easier to implement.

Fig.5
Cress sectional view of a typical target showing the dual Helium camber and water cooled beam stop

6. Conclusion
We are working on new concepts to improve the target efficiency to be tested as soon as the modular target is commissioned. One of those is the use of a magnetic field to, possibly, attain a dual effect on the production efficiency. The gas atoms get ionized during irradiation creating a space charge effect inside the target. Magnetic field can confine the ionized gas in the central section of the target, improving production. The same magnetic field will create a focusing effect on the low energy, diverging, tail-end of the beam forcing it to re-converge into the gas chamber. Multiple pole or solenoid type electromagnets, or permanent magnets, can be arranged around the target body to create the desired field. We shall perform the pertaining simulations and test soon, and report on the results of those experiments.

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