Simulation of radiotracer method for diffusion studies using short-lived radioactive nuclear beams

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms Vol. 212; pp. 483 - 488
• Main Authors: Jeong, S.C., Katayama, I., Kawakami, H., Ishiyama, H., Miyatake, H., Sataka, M., Iwase, A., Okayasu, S., Sugai, H., Ichikawa, S., Nishio, K., Sugiyama, Y., Yahagi, M., Takada, K., Watanabe, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.12.2003
• Subjects: Charged particle (α)-emitter; Concentration-depth profile; Diffusion coefficient; Radiotracer method; Short-lived radioactive nuclear beams; β-emitter; Short-lived radioactive nuclear beams; 29.25.R; Charged particle (α)-emitter; Concentration-depth profile; 81.70.Yp; 66.30; β-emitter; Diffusion coefficient; Radiotracer method
• ISSN: 0168-583X; 1872-9584
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-583X(03)01503-9

We have studied, by a computer simulation, the feasibility of the radiotracer method for diffusion studies using short-lived radioactive nuclear beams as tracers. We have considered two typical examples of radiotracers that will be available in KEK-JAERI RNB facility, 18F (half-life: 1.8 h, β +-emitter) and 8Li (half-life: 0.83 s, α-emitter). The sample is set on a given temperature and irradiated by the tracer beams for a time-duration. In the case of 18F, the serial sectioning technique by the ion-beam-sputtering device is assumed to obtain the concentration-depth profile of the tracer diffused during the irradiation time. In the case of 8Li, the simulation reveals that the time-dependent yields of α particles can be used as a measure of the diffusivity of the tracer in a non-destructive way. The present method could be applied to measure rather large diffusion coefficients of various radiotracers with a short measuring time.