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Spontaneous Fission Previously Observed in a Mercury Source

Nature volume 234, pages 212–215 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

PREVIOUSLY1, we have presented evidence for the possible existence of a superheavy element with atomic number 112. The principal evidence for the possible existence of this element was based on the observation of spontaneous fission in a mercury source separated from a tungsten target which had been irradiated by 24 GeV protons. Spontaneous fission activity was observed, using polycarbonate foils, in mercury sources separated from two tungsten targets. These latter are identified by the symbols W2 and W3. In the case of the W3 source the proton dose was probably less than for W2 and also only about 30% of the mercury added as carrier was recovered in the final source (as measured by colorimetric techniques). The observed fission activity was smaller than that observed with the W2 source. In the latter case (W2) the measured activity was originally about three fissions/day and all experimental work reported here has been carried out with this sample.

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References

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Author information

Author notes

  1. A. MARINOV: On leave from the Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.

  2. J. L. WEIL: On leave from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506.

  3. A. M. FRIEDMAN: Attached staff at AERE Harwell, Didcot, Berkshire, for one year.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rutherford Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Berkshire

    A. MARINOV, C. J. BATTY, A. I. KILVINGTON & J. L. WEIL

  2. Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, 60439

    A. M. FRIEDMAN

  3. Chemistry Department, University of Manchester,

    G. W. A. NEWTON & V. J. ROBINSON

  4. Universities Research Reactor, Risley, Lancashire

    J. D. HEMINGWAY

  5. AWRE, Aldermaston, Berkshire

    D. S. MATHER

Authors
  1. A. MARINOV
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  2. C. J. BATTY
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  3. A. I. KILVINGTON
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  4. J. L. WEIL
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  5. A. M. FRIEDMAN
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  6. G. W. A. NEWTON
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  7. V. J. ROBINSON
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  8. J. D. HEMINGWAY
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  9. D. S. MATHER
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MARINOV, A., BATTY, C., KILVINGTON, A. et al. Spontaneous Fission Previously Observed in a Mercury Source. Nature 234, 212–215 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/234212b0

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