Production of 10Be isotope from boron carbide irradiated with fast neutrons

A method for producing 10Be isotope from spent rods of the emergency protection and compensation systems of a fast neutron reactor is described. This isotope has found application in targets and radioactive beams for experiments at modern heavy-ion accelerators. The mass of 10Be obtained using this technique is 2.7 mg, which is five times the mass of this isotope produced throughout the world to date. A method for determining the 10Be concentration in the source material and intermediate fractions of its processing has been developed. This method is based on analysis of γ and β spectra of samples, measured by HPGe and Si(Li) detectors. A prototype of the 10Be oxide target has been manufactured. The parameters of the target prototype have been determined, and its vacuum testing has been performed.