Report for research on substitute materials. Quarterly progress report, April 2, 1951 to July 2, 1951 (Polonium-208)

Mound Laboratory is cooperating on a joint development program directed toward the production of polonium-208 by proton irradiation of bismuth. Because of the greater half life of polonium-208 compared with polonium-210 (2.93 years versus 138.4 days), it would be a desirable substitute for polonium-210, At the present time the Electromagnetic Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory is operating a cyclotron for the production of polonium-208 on an experimental scale. The targets produced are sent to Mound Laboratory for evaluation of the results which have been obtained, as well as for processing of the targets to obtain experimental amounts of the polonium in a purified form. The California Research Corporation is designing the target to be used in the Mark I linear accelerator located at Livermore, California. The overall responsibility for the Mark I design and operation is being handled by the California Research and Development Corporation. Before it is used for the production of polonium-208, the Mark I will be convert d from a deuteron beam, on which it will first operate, to a proton beam. This report describes progress on separation processes of bismuth and polonium, and diffusion of polonium through aluminium