PLUTONIUM-BERYLLIUM NEUTRON SOURCES THEIR FABRICATION AND THEIR YIELD
An investigntion of the plutonium-beryllium phase diagram demonstrates the suitability of these alloys and most particularly the intermetallic compound PuBe/sub 13/ for stable neutron sources. These sources are superior to polonium- beryllium sources in respect to sthbility of neutron yield as a iunction of time and the prediotability of neutroc yield as a function of mass. The gamma-ray emission of plutonium-beryllium sources is very much less intense than that associated with radium beryllium socrces of corresponding neutron strength. The neutron yield is discussed in terms of the microstrocture and in terms of the relative distrihation of plutonium isotopes. Properties of the compound PaBe/sub 13/ pertinent to source fabrication and a methed for preparing suitable material are described. Designs of cylindrical and spherical containers suitable for magnetic handling are presented. A technique for encapsulating the neutron emitting material and testing the integrity of the resulting source is described in detail. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-12-014950
- OSTI ID:
- 4322217
- Report Number(s):
- A/CONF.15/P/700
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Prepared for the Second U.N. International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, 1958. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-58
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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