THE DESIGN OF AN AUTOMATIC RECORDING ELECTROSCOPE AND ITS USE TO DETERMINE HALF-LIVES IN RADIOACTIVE DECAY

Abstract

An automatic recording electroscope has been constructed and used to determine short half-lives in radioactive decay. The operation of the instrument has been tested by comparing it with both a manually operated electroscope and a 4 π type proportional β counter. The instrument produces results which are at least as accurate as any with which they may be compared. The half-lives of Co^60m and Al²⁸ have been measured as 10.47 ±.02 min. and 2.27 ±.02 min. respectively.