Sputtering of Iron by Fast Neutrons

Abstract

The atomic sputtering by fast neutrons incident upon a thin iron foil target was determined by measuring the activity of radioactive iron atoms collected during continuous exposure of the target to a fast neutron flux of 4.0×1012 neutrons/cm2 sec. The sputtering ratio (atoms of iron sputtered per fast neutron crossing the surface of the target) was found to be (5.7±0.8)×10−3, assuming an isotropic neutron flux.