Effect of radiation on the chemical changes accompanying nuclear isomeric transition (tellurium-121 m, -127m, and -129m) in crystalline telluric acid

Abstract

Ionising radiation increases the retention of the ground-state species from the isomeric transition of the tellurium isomers in telluric acid. The change in retention with length of irradiation resembles that taking place on heating. The plateau value depends on the dose rate of the irradiation. On ceasing irradiation a new generation of ground-state species grows in and the retention returns to the original value at a rate determined by the decay constant of the ground-state species. The growth and decay of the retention can be duplicated in a series of irradiations and interruptions. An interpretation of these data is provided.