David M. Gans

Disintegration of Light Atomic Nuclei by the Capture of Fast Neutrons

ABOUT thirteen disintegrations of neon nuclei have been obtained in 3,200 pairs, and approximately 100 disintegrations of nitrogen nuclei in 7,600 pairs of photographs of a Wilson chamber through which neutrons were passing. The source of the neutrons consisted of beryllium powder intimately ground with a mixture of mesothorium and thorium-X. The neutron source used was on the average more powerful in the experiments with neon than with nitrogen. If all the factors are taken into account, it is found that with identical atomic concentrations of neon and of nitrogen in the chamber, the neon nuclei are disintegrated much less often than those of nitrogen.