THE QUENCHING ACTION OF PLUTONIUM AND IRON ON THE FLUORESCENCE OF URANIUM IN SODIUM FLUORIDE PHOSPHORS
Abstract
The effect of Pu and Fe on the fluorescence of U in NaF melts illuminated by UV was measured over a range of concentrations. The transmission of NaF to UV light at different lambda's shows that NaF alone and in combination with Fe has no absorption bands. NaF containing U displays a wide absorption band in the UV. Evidence is presented that Fe has a strong quenching action but does not quench by light absorption. Additional results show that the spectrum of the enhanced fluorescence of U does not change in the presence of small amounts of Fe. The conclusion was that the initially excited states of U, and not the metastable fluorescent state, are subject to quenching by Fe. The experimental quenching curves were interpreted on the basis on energy transfer and light absorption. The distance of energy transfer was calculated to be of the order of 100 A. The alteration of fluorescence with concentration can be explained by assuming that Fe and Pu quench some excitations, but not others, by radiationless energy transfer. U causes self-quenching initially by light absorption and at higher concentrations by energy transfer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 30, 1952
- Accession Number
- AD0000981
Entities
People
- G. Hutton
- G. N. Walton
- J. A. Dalziel