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-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher W. Becker [SMTP:cwbecker@umich.edu]
Sent: Monday, July 12, 1999 2:01 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Pu-Be Sources
All,
The question has come up as to whether it is prudent to substitute a
Californium-252 source for our neutron sources in lieu of Pu-Be sources.
The idea is that the Californium is easier to dispose of.
Questions:
Who makes Californium sources that can produce the same neutron strength as
a 1 Ci Pu239-Be source and a 40 Ci Pu238-Be source?
What are the costs? And in what for are the sources?
Are the disposal hardships for Cf-252 the same as for Pu? In other words
are we not solving the problem......final disposal of the source?
Are there problems with stability of Cf-252 source, such as pressure
buildup over time, etc.
Also, is an Am-241/Be source a better substitute?
Christopher W. Becker, Reactor Laboratory Manager
Phoenix Memorial Laboratory - Ford Nuclear Reactor
T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i c h i g a n
2301 Bonisteel Boulevard
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2100
Phone: (734) 764-6224
Fax: (734) 936-1571
http://www.umich.edu/~mmpp/
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