Spontaneous ultraviolet emission from (233)uranium/(229)thorium samples

Authors
Shaw, RW Young, JP Cooper, SP Webb, OF
Citation
Rw. Shaw et al., Spontaneous ultraviolet emission from (233)uranium/(229)thorium samples, PHYS REV L, 82(6), 1999, pp. 1109-1111
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
82
Issue
6
Year of publication
1999
Pages
1109 - 1111
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(19990208)82:6<1109:SUEF(S>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
The spontaneous ultraviolet luminescence reported [G. M. Irwin and K. H. Ki m, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 990 (1997); D.S. Richardson et al., ibid. 80, 3206 (1998)] from (233)uranium compounds and ascribed to an ultraviolet gamma-ra y emission from the metastable (229)thorium daughter is actually N-2 discha rge emission induced in the air surrounding the sample by the sample radioa ctivity. The UV spectrum from high elemental and isotopic purity (UO3)-U-23 3 reported here also exhibits a line at 391.3 nm that does not appear to be due to electric discharge N-2 emission. [S0031-9007(99)08412-4].