i Investigations into the Induced Depletion of 108mAg using Bremsstrahlung Radiation

ii The process of X-ray induced depletion of long lived nuclear isomeric states has been accepted since it was experimentally verified in 1987, with the induced depletion of 180Ta. There is evidence of nuclear decay paths surrounding 108mAg, t1/2=437 years which could be exploited using 255 keV X-rays to induce a similar depletion reaction. This depletion would release 366keVs of gamma rays and create an excess population in the ground state of 108Ag, t1/2 = 2.37, which decays via beta emission to 109Cd. An increase in this beta emission is proposed as an indication that a depletion reaction has occurred. Research into such low excitation energy depletion reactions could allow the realisation of various future technologies, such as ‘clean ’ nuclear batteries. Investigations into the depletion of the 108mAg nucleus are described here and preliminary evidence is presented of a first order exponential decay with half life 2.42±0.25 minutes within post irradiation data which is in agreement with the theoretical ground state decay value suggesting a depletion reaction has occurred. iii Acknowledgment