244Pu-targets for production of element 114 at TASCA

In a series of recent experiments at TASCA, production and decay as well as chemical properties of element 114 have been investigated using the Pu(Ca,3/4n)-reaction leading to 114 [1,2]. Because the Pu target material is available only in very limited amounts, the target preparation technique should give high yields. Easy and complete recovery of the target material is another prerequisite [3]. Thus, we have chosen Molecular Plating (MP) onto 2 μm thin pinhole-free titanium foils as the target preparation technique. At TASCA, a rotating target wheel is used composed of three banana-shaped target segments with an active target area of 1.44 cm each. The rotating target is confined in a nearly closed container in order to protect the beam line as well as the separator against contamination in the case that a target gets destroyed.