The International Nuclear Target Development Society is a not-for-profit educational organization that encourages the sharing and publishing of techniques, provides mentoring to people that are new to target and sample preparation, and hosts conferences. NRF-iThemba LABS was asked to contribute to the INTDS-Newsletter in November with theme “Target laboratories of the world.” The target laboratory at iThemba LABS was established in 2005 to supply and manufacture targets required by scientists and postgraduate students conducting research in nuclear physics at the facility. Various target materials have been produced since then, ranging from pressed Li targets to rare-earth metals such as Nd, Sm and Gd that were produced using thermal reductions. Other thin films like deuterated polystyrene and encapsulated powder targets, like sulphur, have also been manufactured on a routine basis. The target laboratory performs characterization and thickness measurements using alpha source equipment that was built in-house. The target laboratory has expanded its internal footprint as it also produces targets for the Tandetron laboratory. Recently, synthesis of organometallic complexes with enriched metal were manufactured for production of metallic beams. The full article that was authored by Ntombizonke Kheswa can be accessed at the link below:
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