Deuteron bombardment of the heavy elements

Abstract

Experiments on the bombardment of platinum with 9 M.e.V. deuterons are reported. Radioactive isotopes of platinum of periods 32 min., 18 hr. and 2·8 days, and isotopes of gold of periods 2·6 and 5·6 days are reported. The 2·6 day gold isotope is formed directly by deuteron bombardment as well as by decay of the 32 min. platinum isotope. The absorption of the β-rays in aluminium and of the γ-rays in lead has been measured, and assignments have been made for most of the isotopes reported. Excitation function measurements have been made for the 32 min. and 18 hr. platinum isotopes, and the form of the energy-yield curve is the same for both these elements. The form of the curve seems to favour the Oppenheimer-Phillips process for the formation of these radioelements by the reaction.