. UNITED STATES
ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, 0.C.
No. G-270
Tel. 973-3335 or
973-3446
20545
HOLD FOR RELEASE IN PAPERS
~
OF SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1964
Df
(9%
AEC REPORTS MAJOR ADVANCE
3144836
IN NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE PRODUCTION
OF .HEAVY ELEMENTS
A major advance has been made in the nuclear explosive
production of heavy elements, it was announced today by Dr.
John S. Foster, Jr., Director of the Atomic Energy Com-
mission's Lawrence Radiation Laboratory,
ted by the University of California.
Livermore,
opera-
Dr. Foster, reporting on the analysis of materials
obtained after a completely contained underground nuclear
explosion in Nevada on October 9,
.
'*.
said the results demon-
strate the practicability of using the method to produce
significant quantities of isotopes of ultra~heavy synthetic
elements.
The measurements show that in a very short time - about
one hundred millionth of a second - the explosion pumped up
to 17 consecutive neutrons into atoms of natural uranium.
This experiment is the latest in a series started in
1962, and is a part of the United States Atomic Energy Commission's Plowshare Program to apply nuclear explosives to
peaceful purposes.
Dr. Foster said the experiment indicates that the
custom-designed scientific nuclear explosive can be an
important supplement to other American efforts to retain
leadership in a major field of science which was created
in, and has been dominated for two decades by, the United
States.
Studies of the artificial heavy elements have significantly increased knowledge of the stable elements on earth,
the fission process, and the origins and history of the earth,
Some isotopes, such as plutoniumthe stars and the universe.
238, curium-242 and curium-244, show promise for powerful,
lightweight electrical generators in satellites and spacecraft.
(more)