New apparatus AIDA-II for aqueous chemistry of the heaviest elements

Tsukada, Kazuaki  ; Kasamatsu, Yoshitaka*; Asai, Masato  ; Toyoshima, Atsushi; Ishii, Yasuo; Tome, Hayato*; Nagame, Yuichiro 

Aqueous chemistry of element 105, dubnium (Db), is now being performed at JAEA. The nuclide 34-s Db is produced in the Cm(F, 5n) reaction with the production rate of about 0.25 atoms per min. To obtain more accurate data with high statistics, we have developed a new device, AIDA-II (Automated Ion-exchange separation apparatus coupled with the Detection system for Alpha-spectroscopy), based on a continuous sample preparation and detection system, i.e., continuous collection and evaporation of effluent, and successive -particles measurement. The sample preparation is accomplished within 20 s, and AIDA-II enables us to perform cyclic discontinuous column chromatographic separations of short-lived nuclides in aqueous solutions and automated detection of -particles within a typical cycle of about 80 s. In the conference, we will present the new device and a result of -particle detection in the Db experiment.