Re: Transmutation,sort of

["Randy Ross" <RNROSS@BCSC02.GOV.BC.CA>]

To: RADSAFE --INTERNET radsafe@romulus.eh

rnross@bcsc02.gov.bc.ca

Actually, when I read the description of the demonstration there seemed to be
some sort of "burning" in each case. I'll quote "...for decreasing more of the
radiation in single treatments of exposure to Brown's Gas flame, lastingonly a
few minutes, in the samples as described in the table below..."and "...Brown
melted it (Americium) together on a brick with small chunks of steel and
Aluminum...After a couple of minutes under the flame, molted metals sent up an
instant flash in what Brown says is the reaction that destroys the
radioactivity."
 This sound abit dangerous - it sounds like they are contaminating the air ie
radioactive material is escaping via some sort of combustion product gas!!

Radiation Protection, Ministry of Health, British Columbia
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Sounds like Alchemy to me!!  One does not mutate radioactive decay.  The
decay rates are a constant!!
Could be that the counter started to saturate and/or not all of the decays
were counted for some reason or another.

The CO-60 teletherapy source manufacturers would like this!!  If you can
"decrease" the decay rate (e.g. dose rate)
...because decreaing the decay rate would actually increase the amount of
activity remaining in time.... then it would
be necessary to replace the sources at a earlier time.  Source replacement
were  government regulation just some of the reasons why folks chose to
switch to Linear accelerators!.... so won't find many Co-60 teletherapy
units remaining.

jat

>To: RADSAFE --INTERNET RADSAFE@ROMULUS.EH
>
>rnross@bcsc02.gov.bc.ca
>
>So, who has heard of Brown's Gas? It is some sort of gas the decreases
>the rate of radioactive decay by 50% in a few minutes!! Yes that right.
>Co60 went from 580 mrad/hour to 230 mrad/hour in only a few minutes.!!!
>Yull Brown developed it. They claim that they can demonstrate it.
>Maybe it's only available in Canada...
>
>Radiation Protection, Ministry of Health, British Columbia
>The opinions and material above are solely those of the author.
>This is a disclaimer for postings to bulletin boards, newsgroups
>etc., on the internet.
>
>



CAPT Jerry A. Thomas,  MSC, USN
Chief Radiological Physics
Department of Radiology/Nuclear Medicine
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD  20814-4799

E-mail:  thomas@bob.usuf2.usuhs.mil
Phone:   (301) 295-3246
Fax:        (301) 295-3893