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U.S. Department of Energy
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Uranium half-lives: a critical review

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5632099· OSTI ID:5632099

The experimental data are evaluated and values for the spontaneous fission half-life of /sup 238/U and the total half-lives for /sup 232/U, /sup 233/U, /sup 234/U, /sup 235/U, /sup 236/U, and /sup 238/U are recommended. Also the variation of the isotopic abundance of /sup 234/U in nature and the error involved in the assumption of secular equilibrium between /sup 234/U and /sup 238/U in the determination of the specific activity of natural uranium samples are discussed. The recommended half-life values and 95% confidence limits are: /sup 238/U spontaneous fission: 8.09 +- 0.26 x 10/sup 15/ years; /sup 232/U total: 69.8 +- 1.0 years; /sup 233/U total: 1.592 +- 0.002 x 10/sup 5/ years; /sup 234/U total: 2.454 +- 0.006 x 10/sup 5/ years; /sup 235/U total: 7.037 +- 0.011 x 10/sup 8/ years; /sup 236/U total: 2.342 +- 0.003 x 10/sup 7/ years /sup 238/U total: 4.468 +- 0.005 x 10/sup 9/ years.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76CH00016
OSTI ID:
5632099
Report Number(s):
BNL-NCS-51320; ON: DE82006842
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English