Ultra-sensitive detection of p-process nuclide ¹⁴⁶Sm produced by (γ, n), (p, 2nε) and (n, 2n) reactions

We are developing a technique of ultra-sensitive detection of the p-process Sm-146 nuclide by accelerator mass spectrometry. Sm-146 was produced via the reactions (gamma, n), (p, 2n epsilon) and (n, 2n) on Sm-147. Preliminary results demonstrate for the first time the capability of identifying unambiguously Sm-146 through separation and discrimination of its stable Nd-146 isobar and other background ions. We consider applying the detection method to an independent determination of Sm-146 half-life and to the measurements of cross sections of low-energy nuclear reactions producing long-lived nuclides in the vicinity of Sm-146.