Neutron Activation Studies for Applications in Tests of Fundamental Physics and Neutrino Physics

Long-lived radioactive isotopes that lie near the valley of stability are often important for studies with application to neutrino physics and tests of fundamental physics. For example, ³⁶Cl is important for a test of E = mc² via a precise measurement of the ³⁵Cl - ³⁶Cl mass difference, and a number of isotopes close to stability are of interest as potential beta-decay candidates with ultra-low Q values that could be of interest for direct neutrino mass measurements. A straight-forward and relatively inexpensive way to make these isotopes is through neutron activation. In this presentation, we will describe the production of isotopes one neutron from stability using an AmBe source at Central Michigan University, and the quantification of the amount of the radioactive isotopes that are produced using gamma-ray spectroscopy. In particular we will describe the production of ³⁶Cl via neutron activation of NaCl and KCl samples, and the production of other isotopes that could potentially undergo and ultra-low Q value beta decay. We will discuss the characterization of the AmBe source, and the potential for using the isotopes produced in experiments such as Penning trap mass spectrometry measurements.