A simple radionuclide-driven single-ion source

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Materials Science
• Ion Source Technology

Background:

• Developing reliable single-ion sources is crucial for various scientific applications.
• Existing methods for producing single ions can be complex or lack precise control.
• Radioactive decay offers a potential pathway for ion generation, but requires careful engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel source for producing single barium ions.
• To utilize nuclear recoils from radioactive decay for controlled ion emission.
• To enable simultaneous tagging of nuclear decay events and ion emission.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a source by electroplating Gadolinium-148 onto a silicon alpha-particle detector.
• Vapor deposition of a Barium Fluoride layer onto the Gadolinium-148 coated detector.
• Utilizing Samarium-144 recoils from Gadolinium-148 alpha decay to dislodge and emit Barium ions.
• Simultaneous detection of alpha particles for event tagging.

Main Results:

• Successfully produced single barium ions via nuclear recoils.
• Demonstrated simultaneous tagging of nuclear decay and barium ion emission.
• The source is simple, durable, and adaptable for various environments.
• The fabrication process is versatile for emitting other chemical species.

Conclusions:

• The developed source provides a robust and efficient method for generating tagged single barium ions.
• This technology has potential applications in fields requiring precise control over ion delivery.
• The adaptable fabrication process opens avenues for creating diverse single-ion sources.