| Interest in the radio-nuclide {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti (t{dollar}sb{lcub}1over2{rcub}{dollar} = 54 y) has increased significantly in the astrophysical community recently as gamma-ray experiments have become sensitive enough to measure the {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti gamma ray flux of supernovae remnants. It is now possible to check the accuracy of the calculated {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti yield in supernovae with that measured in supernova remnants. As well, a number of parameters used in the supernova explosion mechanisms would be greatly constrained if the amount of {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti produce were accurately known. This is commonly referred to as the {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti yield.; Titanium-44 is produced in all types of supernovae via a complex set of ({dollar}alpha,gamma{dollar}), ({dollar}alpha{dollar},p) and (p,{dollar}gamma{dollar}) reactions in the silicon burning stage. Large reaction networks have been developed to predict, to understand and to simulate the burning processes in these explosive events. The reliability of these calculations depends strongly on the 'input' reaction rates of the involved nuclear reactions. Many of the rates, including the {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti({dollar}alpha,gamma)sp{lcub}48{rcub}{dollar}Cr, {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti(p,{dollar}gamma)sp{lcub}45{rcub}{dollar}V and {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti({dollar}alpha{dollar},p){dollar}sp{lcub}47{rcub}{dollar}V reactions, have been calculated from theoretical reaction models. Rates determined by experimentally measured cross-section would greatly increase the reliability of the calculated {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti yields as well as place important constraints upon the explosion mechanism of supernovae.; The development of a solid {dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti target suitable for such reaction studies has been undertaken at TRIUMF (TRI-University Meson Facility) in Vancouver, Canada. Titanium-44 was produced via the {dollar}sp{lcub}45{rcub}{dollar}Sc(p,2n){dollar}sp{lcub}44{rcub}{dollar}Ti reaction and subsequent chemical extraction and target fabrication procedures have been successfully employed in producing in a target. A 40 {dollar}mu{dollar}Ci target (containing 194 {dollar}mu{dollar}g of naturally occurring Ti) was prepared. The procedures developed to effect this production will be described along with an in-depth discussion of the difficulties encountered. |
