Preparation of PbSe targets for 79Se neutron capture cross section studies

A methodology for the production of PbSe targets for 79Se neutron capture cross section studies is presented. PbSe material was synthesized by direct reaction of its constituents at high temperature, and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Thin PbSe targets, produced for cross section experiments with the surrogate reaction method, were obtained by applying a physical vapor deposition technique, and their morphology and composition were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Pb79Se targets produced for cross section measurements with the Time of Flight method were characterized by γ-ray spectroscopy. Finally, a procedure for the recovery of Se from PbSe is suggested. The purity of the retrieved Se was determined with Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy.