Comparison of the alpha-decay half-life of 210Po implanted in a copper matrix at 4.2 and 293 K

In light of recent speculations on a potentially increased speed of the radioactive decay of alpha-emitters embedded in a metallic matrix at very low temperature, four high-purity Cu discs deep- implanted with 209Bi were prepared. The discs were irradiated in a high-flux reactor and the 209Bi transmuted into 210Po. After the irradiation the 210Po-activity was measured for all four discs. While two of the discs were stored at room temperature, the two other discs were stored in a sealed container submerged in liquid helium (T = 4.2 K) for approximately 200 days. After the storage time the 210Po-activity measurements were repeated and the 210Po-half-life calculated for each sample. No difference between the half-lives for the four samples could be detected within the uncertainties of the measurements. In other words, the results of this study show no evidence for an increase of activity for a-emitters embedded in a metallic matrix at very low temperature.

POEML Philipp;  BELLONI F.;  D'AGATA Elio;  COLINEAU Eric;  MORGENSTERN Alfred;  GRIVEAU Jean-Christophe;  RONDINELLA Vincenzo;  REPNOW R;  NASSISI V.;  BENNEKER P;  LAPETITE Jean-Marc;  HIMBERT Jerome; 

2014-06-13

AMER PHYSICAL SOC

JRC86070

0556-2813,   

http://journals.aps.org/prc/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevC.89.024320,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC86070,   

10.1103/PhysRevC.89.024320,