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  7. Fe-60 in Astrophysics

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Laboratory of Radiochemistry

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60Fe – a key nuclide for fundamental understanding of star evolution and the development of the Early Solar System

The only two neutron capture cross sections of 60Fe measured so far; red triangle: thermal energy (25.3 meV), black dot: stellar energy (25 keV). Both data points were obtained using sample material from PSI. Figure taken from [8].
The only two neutron capture cross sections of 60Fe measured so far; red triangle: thermal energy (25.3 meV), black dot: stellar energy (25 keV). Both data points were obtained using sample material from PSI. Figure taken from [8].
After an extended analytical work [1], around 1016 atoms of 60Fe have been separated from a copper beam dump of the PSI proton accelerator complex. This material served up to now to produce samples for four half-life determinations [2-7] and two neutron capture cross section experiments (thermal energy and 25 keV, [8,9]). It has to be emphasized that during the past 20 years, all experiments world-wide requiring 60Fe samples relied on material produced and manufactured at PSI.


A unique set of characterized standard material for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) [10] has been prepared and will be made available for research groups all over the world.
60Fe standard material as oxide powder.
60Fe standard material as oxide powder.
Related publications
[1] D. Schumann et.al., Radiochemical analysis of a copper beam dump irradiated with high-energetic protons, Radiochim. Acta 97 (3), p. 123-131 (2009)
[2] A. Wallner et.al., Settling the half-life of 60Fe – fundamental for a versatile astrophysical chronometer, Phys. Rev. Letters 114, 041101 (2015)
[3] G. Rugel et.al., New measurement of the 60Fe half-life, Phys. Rev. Letters 103, 072502 (2009)
[4] N. Kivel et.al., Quantification of 60Fe atoms by MC-ICP-MS for the redetermination of the half-life, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 405(9): p. 2965-2972 (2013)
[5] K. Ostdiek et.al., Towards a measurement of the Half Life of 60Fe for stellar and early Solar System models, Nucl. Instr. Methods B 361, p.638-642 (2015)
[6] K. Ostdiek et.al., Activity measurement of 60Fe through the decay of 60mCo and confirmation of its half-life, Phys. Rev. C 2017, accepted
[7] R. Dressler et.al., Nuclear properties of 60Fe, to be published
[8] T. Heftrich et.al., The thermal neutron capture cross section of the radioactive isotope 60Fe, Phys. Rev. C 92, 015806 (2015)
[9] E. Ueberseder et.al., Measurement of the 60Fe(n,)61Fe Cross Section at Stellar Temperatures, Phys. Rev. Letters 102, 151101 (2009)
[10] D. Schumann et.al., Production and characterization of 60Fe standards for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, to be published


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Paul Scherrer Institut
Laboratory of Radiochemistry
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Mrs. A. Blattmann
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angela.blattmann@psi.ch

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LRC Annual Reports

The Annual Reports of the LRC contain accounts of ongoing scientific research and provide an overview of the variety of topics investigated in our laboratory. Until 2015, they comprise results achieved within the former Laboratory for Radio- and Environmental Chemistry (LCH).

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