Re: [Phys-l] radioactivity in the news -- actual measurements

[ludwik kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu>]

Elements, such as Cf, Es, Fm, etc. have been synthesized via nuclear  
reactions induced by heavy ions. Plutonium can also be produced in  
this way. Yes, very very slowly.

Ludwik
===========


On Mar 28, 2011, at 5:41 PM, Bill Nettles wrote:

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> > bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Bernard Cleyet
> > Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 3:50 PM
> > To: Forum for Physics Educators
> > Subject: Re: [Phys-l] radioactivity in the news -- actual  
> > measurements
> >
> >
> > On 2011, Mar 28, , at 13:20, chuck britton wrote:
> >
> > > I just 'learned' on NPR this afternoon the Plutonium is a fission
> > > product - from the splitting of Uranium in the reactor.  (ouch!!!)
> >
> >
> > Without the fissioning of U, Pu would not result, therefore it is a
> > product of the fissioning -- even tho it's the result of neutron
> > absorption.
>
> [Bill Nettles] I disagree with the first half. You could generate  
> neutrons from a spallation process or other reaction [ Be-9  
> (alpha,n) C-12 or Li-7 (p,n) Be-7] and bombard a U-238 target to  
> make Pu-239, so you don't have to have fission to make it.  Also,  
> you can have fission without having U-238 around and avoid making  
> the Pu-239.  Yes, while it is NOT a fission product, it is a by- 
> product of having a fission chain reaction in the presence of U-238.  
> You can make it without fission (very slowly).
>
> > bc is not going to cheque the dictionary definition to find he's  
> > wrong.
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Ludwik

http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/life/intro.html