Radiolysis and radionuclide production in a flowing-water target during fast 40Ca20+ irradiation

A flowing-water target was irradiated with a 140 MeV/u, 8 nA 40Ca20+ beam to test the feasibility of isotope harvesting at the upcoming Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. Among other radionuclides, 2.6(2)E-6 48Cr and 5.6(5)E-6 28 Mg nuclei were formed for every impingent 40Ca and were collected through ion exchange. Radiolysis-induced molecular hydrogen evolved from the target at an initial rate of 0.91(9) H2 molecules per 100 eV of beam energy deposited. No radiation-accelerated corrosion of the target material was observed. •Production and collection of radionuclides through isotope harvesting was demonstrated.•Hydrogen gas was measured as a radiolysis product.•Degradation of an irradiated flowing-water target was not observed.•A preliminary isotope harvesting experiment was performed to prepare for the beam dump at FRIB.•Fragmentation and fusion-evaporation reaction products were observed.