[NewCandle] now here's a curious thing

[Horace Heffner]

On Oct 27, 2009, at 9:37 AM, Nick Reiter wrote:
> But for now, my bigger puzzlement was the immediate action of the  
> counter when the solution began wicking into the rolls.
>
> Any offerings?
>
> NR

Neutron activation?

   27Al + n -> 28 Al -> (2.25m hl) 28Mg + beta + 4.624 MeV

   28Mg -> (21 h hl) 28Na + beta + 1.83 MeV

   28Na -> (30.5 ms) 28Ne + beta + 13.9 MeV

but also my CRC shows this branch:

   28Na -> (30.5 ms) 27Ne + beta + n + ?

I've never noticed this in the CRC handbook before.  A neutron  
producing reaction from neutron activation in the light elements.

Those neons are chuck full of neutrons, but have no half life  
specified, and no natural abundance.  Interesting. I hope I did this  
right.


Best regards,

Horace Heffner
http://www.mtaonline.net/~hheffner/