Physics & Astronomy ETDs

Publication Date

7-24-1969

Abstract

Joliot and Curie’s discovery of artificially induced radio-activity in several nuclei by a-particle bombardment encouraged Fermi and his collaborators in 1934 to attempt similar experiments using neutron bombardment of various target elements/ Using natural uranium as a target material they discovered at least four radioactive products, assumed to be elements in the transuranium region. These experiments were repeated in 1937 by Meitner, Hahn and Strassman in Germany where they found that some of these radioactive elements produced by neutron bombardment of uranium had barium-like chemistry, and were assumed to be isotopes of radium. Further investigation proved that these products could not be separated from barium and therefore must be barium isotopes with approximately one-half the atomic number of uranium.

Degree Name

Physics

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Physics & Astronomy

First Committee Member (Chair)

Christopher Pratt Leavitt

Second Committee Member

Harold C. Britt

Third Committee Member

Derek B. Swinson

Fourth Committee Member

James Daniel Finley III

Language

English

Document Type

Dissertation

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