Method Development for Thin Radioarsenic Targets

Experimental neutron-capture cross-sections of arsenic radioisotopes, especially arsenic-73 ( 73 As) and arsenic-74 ( 74 As) have not previously been measured. However, these cross-section measurements are important to obtain for applications such as stockpile stewardship and astrophysics. Although many methods for developing thin-film arsenic targets are available in literature, they are not directly applicable to the fabrication of radioarsenic thin-film targets, where a carrier is needed. Gold can be used as a substrate backing for neutron-capture cross-section measurements and arsenic has been shown to co-deposit with gold in hydrochloric acid. Therefore, this study investigations the feasibility of using gold as a carrier to develop radioarsenic targets on a gold substrate backing.