23 research outputs found

    New neutron-rich nuclei Zr103,104 and the A100 region of deformation

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    Partial decay schemes in the neutron-rich nuclei Zr103 and Zr104 have been measured for the first time and rotational bands in Zr100 102 have been extended to spins of up to 10Latin small letter h with stroke by observing prompt rays from the spontaneous fisson of Cm248. These nuclei are among the most deformed known at low spin and excitation energy. The level structures in the odd-A nuclei show that the h11/2 intruder orbital plays an important role in stabilizing the deformation in this region

    Accumulation of plutonium in mammalian wildlife tissues following dispersal by accidental-release tests

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    We examined the distribution of plutonium (Pu) in the tissues of mammalian wildlife inhabiting the relatively undisturbed, semi-arid former Taranaki weapons test site, Maralinga, Australia. The accumulation of absorbed Pu was highest in the skeleton (83% ± 6%), followed by muscle (10% ± 9%), liver (6% ± 6%), kidneys (0.6% ± 0.4%), and blood (0.2%). Pu activity concentrations in lung tissues were elevated relative to the body average. Foetal transfer was higher in the wildlife data than in previous laboratory studies. The amount of Pu in the gastrointestinal tract was highly elevated relative to that absorbed within the body, potentially increasing transfer of Pu to wildlife and human consumers that may ingest gastrointestinal tract organs. The Pu distribution in the Maralinga mammalian wildlife generally aligns with previous studies related to environmental exposure (e.g. Pu in humans from worldwide fallout), but contrasts with the partitioning models that have traditionally been used for human worker-protection purposes (approximately equal deposition in bone and liver) which appear to under-predict the skeletal accumulation in environmental exposure conditions
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