[time-nuts] Scandium plus hard x-rays

[shouldbe q931]

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06491-w

"We foresee the development of a Sc-based nuclear clock in the future"

However

"Every X-ray pulse train with an energy of about 65 mJ heats the 25-μm
thick Sc-metal target by an estimated temperature of about 100 K. The
heat conductivity of Sc metal is low—15.8 W m−1 K−1, comparable to
that of stainless steel. Radiation damage to the target is thus
inevitable. Special measures were taken to avoid damage, including
water and air cooling, defocusing of the beam (the beam footprint was
about 2 mm2) and periodic replacement of the target. Two targets had
to be replaced in the course of the experiment because of partial
radiation damage."

Methinks that's a fairly critical issue (-:

Cheers

Arne