Preparation of self-supporting nickel targets from 58Ni, 60Ni and 61Ni

The investigation of the distribution of the fusion-barrier height by heavy-ion collisions requires thin self-supporting targets. To increase the accuracy of the measurement the thickness and homogeneity has to be known as precisely as possible. pared the self-supporting nickel foils out of the isotopes 58Ni, 60Ni and 61Ni. The resulting targets were between 75 and 105 μg/cm² thick. The foils were produced on copper backing by electron-beam gun evaporation and by extracted ion-beam sputtering, both in high vacuum. To obtain self-supporting nickel foils the copper was removed by etching. We will discuss and compare both methods.