THE PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF Pu²⁴²

Abstract

Three samples of plutonium rich in Pu 242 and containing from 1.7 to 8.6% Pu 238 have been prepared by the neutron irradiation of Am 241 . From mass analyses and measurements of the alpha abundance of Pu 242 , the alpha half-life of Pu 242 was determined as 3.73 ±.05 × 10 5 yr. The spontaneous fission half-life of Pu 242 was also measured as 6.6 4 ± 0.10 × 10 10 yr.