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Title: Investigation of the effect of electric fields on the rate of alpha decay

Abstract

Possible alteration of the alpha decay rate of a {sup 249}Cf sample by application of an electric field of the order 10{sup 7} V/m was investigated. Gamma spectroscopy of the 388 keV level in the {sup 245}Cm daughter was used to eliminate the uncertainty inherent in absolute alpha counting. Ratios of the intensities of the 388 keV photopeak of {sup 249}Cf to photopeaks from both beta and electron-capture decay of {sup 152}Eu incorporated in the same sample were measured to eliminate variability due to changes in either sample geometry, or possible physical erosion of the samples. No change in any of the decay rates was seen within the estimated limits of reproducibility of the measurements. 16 refs., 5 tabs., 1 fig.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10129710
Report Number(s):
LBL-31601
ON: DE92009497; TRN: 92:009707
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jul 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; CALIFORNIUM 249; ALPHA DECAY; ELECTRIC FIELDS; GAMMA SPECTROSCOPY; HALF-LIFE; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; 663210; GROUND-STATE RADIOACTIVITY

Citation Formats

Gaylord, R F, Lee, D M, and Hoffman, D C. Investigation of the effect of electric fields on the rate of alpha decay. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.2172/10129710.
Gaylord, R F, Lee, D M, & Hoffman, D C. Investigation of the effect of electric fields on the rate of alpha decay. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10129710
Gaylord, R F, Lee, D M, and Hoffman, D C. 1991. "Investigation of the effect of electric fields on the rate of alpha decay". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/10129710. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10129710.
@article{osti_10129710,
title = {Investigation of the effect of electric fields on the rate of alpha decay},
author = {Gaylord, R F and Lee, D M and Hoffman, D C},
abstractNote = {Possible alteration of the alpha decay rate of a {sup 249}Cf sample by application of an electric field of the order 10{sup 7} V/m was investigated. Gamma spectroscopy of the 388 keV level in the {sup 245}Cm daughter was used to eliminate the uncertainty inherent in absolute alpha counting. Ratios of the intensities of the 388 keV photopeak of {sup 249}Cf to photopeaks from both beta and electron-capture decay of {sup 152}Eu incorporated in the same sample were measured to eliminate variability due to changes in either sample geometry, or possible physical erosion of the samples. No change in any of the decay rates was seen within the estimated limits of reproducibility of the measurements. 16 refs., 5 tabs., 1 fig.},
doi = {10.2172/10129710},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/10129710}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991},
month = {Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991}
}