RE: Radiation Leaks at Russian Research Center

["Jim F. Herrold" <Herrold@UWyo.Edu>]

I stand corrected. To refresh my failing memory I went back to my old
references on neutron physics and the chart of the nuclides. Indeed,
Cember refers to internal nuclear transformations (such as the
conversion of a neutron to a proton) as "radioactive transformations."

Unfortunately, I didn't have these at the breakfast table.

Jim

>----------
>From: 	Lester.Slaback@nist.gov[SMTP:Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]
>Sent: 	Wednesday, June 18, 1997 8:51 AM
>To: 	Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: 	RE: Radiation Leaks at Russian Research Center
>
>Well, since neutrons decay via beta emission one might argue that you
>could describe them as 'radioactive' (albeit the newspaper folks would not
>have this tidbit of info).
>
>>Even the Laramie Daily Boomerang (our local paper) carried a front-page
>>blurb about this from the AP service. It said a Russian Physicist was
>>struck by a beam of "radioactive neutrons." I had to chuckle. My wife
>>didn't know what was so funny, so I had to go into the explanation
>>"...well, neutrons are a form of radiation, but the particles themselves
>>aren't 'radioactive.'...You see, radioactivity is the spontaneous
>>disintegration of unstable atoms... oh, never mind."
>
>-- 
>the above are the personal musing of the author,
>and do not represent any past, current, or future
>position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
>who might think that they are in a position of authority.
>NBSR Health Physics
>NIST
>Gaithersburg, MD 20899
>301 975-5810
>-----------------------------------------------------------
>Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
>-----------------------------------------------------------
>
>