Re: Americium/Beryllium Source -Reply

[DAVID HARRISON <DHARRISON@doe.lanl.gov>]

Mike, probably has something to do with the difference in specific
activities:

Pu-239: 0.062 Ci/g
Ra-226: 1.415 Ci/g

Yield for Pu-239:Be is 1E6 n/sec/Ci
Yield for Ra-226:Be is 1.3E7 n/sec/Ci

T1/2 (Pu-239):24,000 years
T1/2 (Ra-226):1622 years

With Radium you have more alphas emitted per unit time, and thus more
available for the (alpha,n) reaction.

David Harrison
DHARRISON@DOE.LANL.GOV

All comments/opinions are mine alone, and do not necessarily reflect
those of the DOE or any of its contractors/subcontractors.

>>> Mike McNaughton <mcnaught@lanl.gov> 07/18/96 06:42am >>>
I have read in several places that RaBe sources produce more neutrons
and also many more gammas than (say) PuBe sources.  Do you
understand why?
In my understanding, the alpha from Ra is similar to the alpha from Pu,
and the Be is the same, so why is there a difference?

Thanks, mike

Stay safe, mike (mcnaught@LANL.GOV)