Multi-elemental characterization of organic liquid samples by use of a 13 MeV 6Li3+ beam

Abstract Evaporated amniotic fluid (AF) targets have been bombarded with a 13 MeV 6 Li 3+ beam. Forward angle data have served to identify the 1 H( 6 Li, 1 H) 6 Li reaction as an alternative for hydrogen characterization of such organic samples. Detected 6 Li ions elastically scattered from C, N, O, Na and Cl can also be used to determine the concentrations of these elements in AF. The analyzed AF samples have been diluted with distilled water. The effect of sample dilution on the improvement of spectrum energy resolution has been observed, confirming previous reports. The hydrogen concentration determined in the studied AF targets is shown to vary linearly with sample dilution. Two detector arrangements have been used to find out which detection scheme is the most convenient. The combination of a counter telescope and a single detector, set up at the same polar angle on the opposite side of the beam, seems to be the best choice to have a reliable particle identification and an adequate energy resolution simultaneously.