Re: Nitrogen in explosives

[Bernard L Cohen <blc+@pitt.edu>]

In N-14, the principal reaction with slow neutrons is (n,p) which gives 
C-14. That is the source of all the C-14 in the world which is the basis 
for radiocarbon dating.

Bernard L. Cohen
Physics Dept.
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Tel: (412)624-9245
Fax: (412)624-9163
e-mail: blc+@pitt.edu


On Fri, 21 Jun 1996, Ronald Morgan wrote:

> Wade, could you be more specific as to how you get C-14 from
> neutron-activated nitrogen(presumably natural nitrogen)?  A quick glance at
> the chart of the nuclides tells me that N-14 would be the most likely
> receptor of the neutron, forming N-15 with (I've been told) a prompt 10MEV
> gamma.  Even the N-15 that is present would become N-16, beta-decaying to
> Oxygen-16 with (one of) the famous trio of N-16 gammas.
> 
> At 12:02 PM 6/21/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >Group:
> >As has been said, explosives can be detected via the neutron activation of
> >the ubiquitous nitrogen in them. What has not been said is that nitrogen is
> >also ubiquitous in other substances, e.g., cosmetics.
> >When the excited state of nitrogen decays, with the emission of a high-energy
> >gamma, it decays to C14. Thus, when one's cosmetics go through the airport
> >explosives detection system they are made radioactive (deadly radioactivity
> >to the press and to regulators).
> >Subsequently one often rubs this radioactive cosmetic substance on
> >intimate/sensitive parts of one's body. 
> >If one wishes to follow ALARA, use such cosmetics sparingly.
> >PS  Don't forget that carbon is incorporated into DNA.
> >Wade Patterson
> >
> >
>           **************************************
>           Ron Morgan <rgmorgan@lanl.gov>
>           Operational Health Physics (ESH-1)
>           Los Alamos National Laboratory
>           MS K-487, Los Alamos New Mexico, 87545
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