Results ofH3Bombardment of Ag Leading toPd109

Abstract

${\mathrm{H}}^3$ has been used as the bombarding particle to effect nuclear reactions. ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ was produced by ($d$, ${\mathrm{H}}^3$) reaction in Be and Ag and immediately utilized as are neutrons in a fast neutron bombardment. The energy of the ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ particles was about 10 Mev. The target was a stack of Ag foils in front of which different thicknesses of Be were placed and a 10-Mev deuteron beam was made to impinge on the Be. The ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ generated within Be, produced the 13-hour ${\mathrm{Pd}}^{109}$ activity in Ag foils as confirmed by chemistry. The reaction is believed to be ${\mathrm{Ag}}^{109}$ (${\mathrm{H}}^3$, ${\mathrm{He}}^3$) ${\mathrm{Pd}}^{109}$. Spurious ($n$, $p$) reaction was estimated and corrected for. The observed range of ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ in different materials is discussed. The threshold for the ${\mathrm{H}}^3$ reaction in Ag is roughly estimated to be between 1.1 and 1.5 Mev.