Light radio-isotopes for nuclear astrophysics and neutrino physics
Abstract
We present efforts to investigate and simulate the production, extraction and utilization of light radio-isotopes in research in nuclear astrophysics and fundamental nuclear and neutrino physics. The main technological novelty arises from the large fluxes of light radioactive beams that will be available using a high current LINAC beam of few mA, impinging on a specially designed appropriate target. Such high-intensity facilities will shortly be available at SPIRAL-II (GANIL, France) and at the SARAF accelerator (Soreq, Israel). The present paper concentrates on the following two categories: (1) production of 14O, 15O and 18Ne by direct interaction with a proton or deuteron beam and (2) production of 6He and 8Li by a two-stage reaction. These radioactive nuclei play a central and crucial role in the astrophysics issue of explosive nucleo-synthesis in the environment of, e.g., x-ray bursts. 6He, 8Li and 18Ne are important for studies of neutrino properties in general and in particular in 'β-beam' facilities. The expected increase of yield of several orders of magnitude will allow experiments that have not been possible hitherto, utilizing in an optimum manner the existing and newly planned detection systems for charged particles and γ-rays.