M.H. Studier

The use of 129I as an isotopic tracer and its determination along with normal 127I by neutron activation—The isolation of iodine from a variety of materials

Abstract In order to make the 1·7 × 107 year 129I useful as an iodine tracer a neutron activation procedure was used for its determination. A procedure involving high temperature ignition in a stream of oxygen was devised for the isolation of iodine from a variety of materials. After activation and decontamination a large sodium iodide, well-type crystal was used as a selective detector for the 130I activation product. The normal iodine content of a sample is readily determined at the same time.

Tritium in the thermal neutron fission of uranium—235

Abstract The existence of tritium as a product of fission, first reported by Albenesius , (1) has been verified. A ratio of 1·25 ± 0·15 × 104 fissions per atom of tritium was found for the thermal neutron-induced fission of 235U. Tritium was converted to water in a closed system and its activity measured by liquid scintillation techniques. The number of fissions was determined by assay of the 0·537 MeV γ-ray of 140Ba.

Production of Pu245 and Am245 by neutron irradiation of Pu244

Abstract Pu 245 and Am 245 were prepared by neutron irradiation of Pu 244 . The beta-decay half-lives of Pu 245 and Am 245 were found to be 10·1 ± 0·5 hours and 119 ± 1 minutes, respectively. The beta-decay energy of Am 245 was found to be 0·86 MeV by absorption methods, and γ-rays of 260, 121, and 70 keV ∗ were resolved with a sodium iodide crystal spectrometer. The thermal neutron capture cross-section of Pu 244 was determined to be 1·4 barns.