The SINQ gas-jet facility as a source for radionuclides from neutron-induced fission of 235U

The Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ of the Paul Scherrer Institute provides neutrons via proton-induced spallation reactions in a lead target. Produced neutrons are thermalized and impinge on 235U-targets, enclosed in a three-part chamber assembly, which is located in the inner wall of the SINQ shielding. The thermal-neutron-induced fission products can be readily transported from this chamber assembly to a radiochemical laboratory using the gas-jet technique either with a pure carrier gas or with an aerosol-particle-loaded carrier gas. In the past, mainly radioisotopes of the elements Se, Br, Rb, and Kr were retrieved and used for gas-phase chemistry experiments. Here, we present first experiments after the commissioning of the SINQ gas-jet facility as a source of recoverable, non-volatile and volatile, carrier-free fission products for general radiochemical studies and other applications.