Report for General Research April 1 to August 7, 1950 (Polonium Volume)
Research on polonium chemistry and physics is being continued on a reduced scale. Those problems which have direct bearing on the preparation of the metal and those which will lead to a better understanding of any phenomenon encountered are being continued. Data from the calorimetric measurements of polonium on Calorimeters 39 and 46 were treated by the method of least squares to give a grand mean half life of polonium equal to 138.3993 {+-} 0.0093 days (1-13). New apparatus has been constructed for the measurement of the vapor pressure of polonium and its compounds in the low and the high temperature ranges. Technical difficulties have delayed the actual collection of data (1-22). The constant current magnet to be used for the measurement of the Hall effect of polonium has been tested and found satisfactory. A device utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance absorption for determining field strength has been constructed on a preliminary basis (1-24). A total of 208 lines in the ultraviolet region between 3200 A and 1900 A have been measured with an error of less than {+-}0.02 A (1-28). Studies on the X-ray and spark spectra of polonium and its compounds have been conducted. A preliminary study by X-ray analysis has shown an equilibrium state of polonium between 65{sup o} and 100{sup o}. No sharp change of alpha polonium to the beta form has been noted below 100{sup o} (1-49). Previous evidence of a third phase of polonium at liquid air temperatures could not be duplicated (1-53). Confirmation of previous measurements of the coefficient of expansion of polonium with a more accurate temperature control has been achieved. A study of a platinum polonide sample has been carried out (1-55). Measurements of the Hall coefficient of polonium is being delayed until the pole caps for the completed magnet are obtained (1-61). The reaction of dry oxygen with polonium at 300{sup o} confirms the formation of polonium dioxide. More than two components are present in the system, but the method of quantitatively determining the components does not permit conclusions as to the distribution of oxygen (1-70). Considerable handling difficulties have delayed sickle-gauge measurements of the vapor pressure of polonium chloride (1-74). A detailed analysis for small order changes of lattice parameters of platinum polonide has been completed during the study of the formation of metal-polonium compounds (1-76).
- Research Organization:
- MOUND (Mound Plant, Miamisburg, OH)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT-33-1-GEN-53
- OSTI ID:
- 957455
- Report Number(s):
- MLM-484-1; MLM-MU-50-69-0007; TRN: US201022%%344
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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