The radioactivity of Am²⁴² /

The neutron irradiation of 475-year Am(241) results in the production of a pair of isomers, Am(242m) with 16-hr half-life known to decay by beta emission and a long-lived ground state, Am(242), which is also a beta emitter and has weak alpha branching. Since fairly strong activities can be prepared by pile-neutron irradiation of small quantities of Am(241) it became feasible to examine the radiations, particularly those of Am(242), with beta-ray and X-ray spectrometers. When this was done, not only was the beta transition characterized, but good evidence was obtained that in addition this isomer undergoes appreciable branching decay by isomeric transition and by electron capture.Work performed at the University of California Radiation Laboratory."July 18, 1950."Includes bibliographical references (p. 3).The neutron irradiation of 475-year Am(241) results in the production of a pair of isomers, Am(242m) with 16-hr half-life known to decay by beta emission and a long-lived ground state, Am(242), which is also a beta emitter and has weak alpha branching. Since fairly strong activities can be prepared by pile-neutron irradiation of small quantities of Am(241) it became feasible to examine the radiations, particularly those of Am(242), with beta-ray and X-ray spectrometers. When this was done, not only was the beta transition characterized, but good evidence was obtained that in addition this isomer undergoes appreciable branching decay by isomeric transition and by electron capture.Mode of access: Internet