Re: Americium/Beryllium Source

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

Also, the alpha particle energies are much higher for radium and 
daughters,which gives them longer range in the Be and also helps overcome 
the Coulomb repulsion ("barrier")

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 Thu, 18 Jul 1996, Charles Meyer wrote:

> Date:          Thu, 18 Jul 96 08:43:08 -0500
> Reply-to:      radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
> From:          mcnaught@Lanl.GOV (Mike McNaughton)
> To:            Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
> Subject:       Re: Americium/Beryllium Source
> 
> 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)
> 
> Mike,
> 
> Radium soon attains equilibrium with its progeny inside the capsule,  
> five(for all practical purposes) additional alphas from various 
> progeny are emitted for each alpha emitted by radium.  Perhaps that 
> can explain the additional neutron output from radium.
> 
> Russ
> 
>              ***************************************
>                Russ Meyer                            
>                Internet: cmeyer@brc1.tdh.state.tx.us 
>                tel: 512/834-6688                                                    
>                fax: 512/834-6654
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