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252 Cf is a very strong neutron emitter, which makes it extremely radioactive and harmful. [24] [25] [26] 252 Cf, 96.9% of the time, alpha decays to curium-248; the other 3.1% of decays are spontaneous fission. [11] One microgram (μg) of 252 Cf emits 2.3 million neutrons per second, an average of 3.7 neutrons per spontaneous fission. [27]
Californium-252 production diagram. Californium-252 (Cf-252, 252 Cf) undergoes spontaneous fission with a branching ratio of 3.09% and is used in small neutron sources. Fission neutrons have an energy range of 0 to 13 MeV with a mean value of 2.3 MeV and a most probable value of 1 MeV. [11]
Induced fission happens only when a nucleus is bombarded with neutrons, gamma rays, or other carriers of energy. Many heavy isotopes, most notably californium-252, also emit prompt neutrons among the products of a similar spontaneous radioactive decay process, spontaneous fission.
This induced fission cascade generates a beam of neutrons that can be used for a variety of imaging and analytical techniques. Rather than relying solely on a large amount of californium for neutrons, the multiplier effect of 3.5 pounds of uranium initiated by only a few milligrams of 252 Cf provided a higher ultimate neutron flux at a lower cost.
Some isotopes undergo spontaneous fission (SF) with emission of neutrons.The most common spontaneous fission source is the isotope californium-252. 252 Cf and all other SF neutron sources are made by irradiating uranium or a transuranic element in a nuclear reactor, where neutrons are absorbed in the starting material and its subsequent reaction products, transmuting the starting material into ...
This list of nuclides shows observed nuclides that either are stable or, if radioactive, have half-lives longer than one hour. This represents isotopes of the first 105 elements, except for elements 87 ( francium ), 102 ( nobelium ) and 104 ( rutherfordium ).
A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation (symbol γ), is a penetrating form of electromagnetic radiation arising from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei.It consists of the shortest wavelength electromagnetic waves, typically shorter than those of X-rays.
The isotopes with even mass numbers (250 Cf, 252 Cf and 254 Cf) have a high rate of spontaneous fission, especially 254 Cf of which 99.7% decays by spontaneous fission. Californium-249 has a relatively long half-life (352 years), weak spontaneous fission and strong γ-emission that facilitates its identification.