18.07.2015 Views

Understanding Neutron Radiography

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Radioisotopes Which Undergo Spontaneous Fission<br />

Certain isotopes undergo spontaneous fission with emission of neutrons. The<br />

most commonly used spontaneous fission source is the radioactive isotope<br />

californium-252.<br />

Cf-252 and all other spontaneous fission neutron sources are produced by<br />

irradiating uranium or another transuranic element in a nuclear reactor, where<br />

neutrons are absorbed in the starting material and its subsequent reaction<br />

products, transmuting the starting material into the SF isotope.<br />

Cf-252 neutron sources are typically 1/4" to 1/2" in diameter and 1" to 2" in<br />

length. When purchased new a typical Cf-252 neutron source emits between<br />

1×10 7 to 1×10 9 neutrons per second but, with a half life of 2.6 years, this<br />

neutron output rate drops to half of this original value in 2.6 years. The price<br />

of a typical Cf-252 neutron source is from $15,000 to $20,000.<br />

Charlie Chong/ Fion Zhang<br />

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/<strong>Neutron</strong>_source

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!