Iron-55
| General | |
|---|---|
Decay mode | Decay energy (MeV) |
| Electron capture | 0.00519 |
| Isotopes of iron Complete table of nuclides | |
Iron-55 (55Fe) is a
Auger electrons
, which are produced during the decay.
Decay
Iron-55 decays via
K-beta X-rays with nominal energy of 6.49045 keV and a probability about 2.85%. The energies of the K-alpha-1 and -2 X-rays are so similar that they are often specified as mono-energetic radiation with 5.9 keV photon energy. Its probability is about 28%.[2]
The remaining 12% is accounted for by lower-energy Auger electrons and a few photons from other, minor transitions.
Use
The K-alpha X-rays emitted by the
X-ray diffraction/X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.[7] The 2011 Mars mission MSL used a functionally similar spectrometer, but with a traditional, electrically powered X-ray source.[8]
The Auger electrons can be applied in
nickel-63 sources provide electrons from beta decay.[9]
Occurrence
Iron-55 is most effectively produced by irradiation of iron with
iron-54 and iron-56 with neutrons yields iron-55. Most of the observed iron-55 is produced in these irradiation reactions, and it is not a primary fission product.[10]
As a result of the test ban in 1963, considerable amounts of iron-55 have been released into the biosphere.[11] People close to the test ranges, for example Iñupiat (Alaska Natives) and inhabitants of the Marshall Islands, accumulated significant amounts of radioactive iron. However, the short half-life and the test ban decreased, within several years, the available amount of iron-55 nearly to the pre-nuclear test levels.[11][12]
References
- .
- ISBN 978-1-4020-1294-5.
- .
- ISBN 978-0-8031-0603-1.
- ^ "The ESA-NASA ExoMars Programme Rover, 2018". ESA. Archived from the original on 2009-12-23. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
- ^ "The ExoMars instrument suite". ESA. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
- Bibcode:2007LPI....38.1322M.
- ^ Chemistry & Mineralogy (CheMin), NASA
- .
- S2CID 91254200.
- ^ S2CID 206565239.
- PMID 5062744.