A method for the production of an intense negative 14C beam

For the purpose of studying low cross section nuclear reactions the method for the production of negative ion 14C beams with a current of some μA order by means of a cylindrical source with Fe3, 14C target sputtering is developed. The source target is fabricated in the following way: 100 mg of 14C black is mixed with a binder diluted by alcohol and acetone. The mixing is continued until the solvents do not evaporate and the mixture does not take the appearance of a slightly moistsand, small portions of the mixture are pressed in a substrate deepening the target is warmed up in the air during 1h at the temperature of 200 deg C, after cooling the target is thoroughly cleaned up by alcohol from surface impurities. The source configuration admits the passage of a part of cesium beam produced at the Van-de-Graaff accelerator near the target which later is reflected back and focused on the graphite surface. At 0.5 mA cesium current the 14C negative ions beam approximately 2 μA is produced. After 500 hrs of operation the source of surface contamination behined the target by 14C particles has not been found