Mass spectrometric studies using solid radioisotopes as an ion source have been made in a pulse counting mode with 16-stage electron multiplier. Two kinds of ion sources using
241 Am have been constructed according to the fact that an alpha emitter, when it decays, produces two kinds of energetic particles:an alpha particle and a recoil atom.One is a recoil ion source which makes it possible to observe charge states of recoil ions. The other is a sputtering ion source which makes it possible to detect ions“in situ”wher eand when they are just produced in a solid phase. Results with the recoil ion source have shown that+5-charged ions are the most abundant in case of
237 Np from
241 Am. A discussion has been made in comparison with results from Mossbauer spectroscopic studies. Both Pd metal layer and cellulose nitrate film have been examined by means of the sputtering ion source. Mass spectra and charge spectra obtained have been discussed in connection with track formation mechanism through passage of energetic particles in a solid phase.
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