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The effect of metallic environment and low temperature on the ^sup 253^Es [alpha] decay rate
In recent publications it has been pointed out that the [alpha] decay of transuranic elements in nuclear waste can be considerably speeded up by putting them into metals. The proposed mechanism is based on the effect of electron screening of radioactive nuclei (according to the Debye electron plasma...
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Published in: | Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Physics 2008-03, Vol.72 (3), p.315 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | In recent publications it has been pointed out that the [alpha] decay of transuranic elements in nuclear waste can be considerably speeded up by putting them into metals. The proposed mechanism is based on the effect of electron screening of radioactive nuclei (according to the Debye electron plasma model), which grows enhanced as temperature decreases. To verify the predicted phenomenon, half-lives of 253Es nuclei implanted in a metallic iron foil were measured at the temperature from 4 K to 50 mK. The results agree with the room-temperature data reported in the literature; no temperature dependence of the half-life was found within the error of [asymp]2%. |
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ISSN: | 1062-8738 1934-9432 |
DOI: | 10.3103/S1062873808030106 |