The isomeric effect in Szilard-Chalmers recoil of 60 mCo and 60 gCo in Co(III) complexes in relation to neutron energies

Abstract

The isomeric effect in Szilard-Chalmers recoil of 60 m Co and 60 g Co was measured in five Co(III) complexes irradiated with pile neutrons as well as with epi-cadmium neutrons. It was found that the value of the isomeric effect is lower in the case of the irradiations with epi-cadmium neutrons and that this lowering of the isomeric effect is parallel to the reduction in the amount of 60 m Co formed in comparison with the 60 g Co. This behaviour agrees with the hypothesis, already discussed in previous papers, that the isomeric effect is due to formation of interstitial atoms of 60 g Co by decay, with internal conversion, of the 60 m Co, during the neutron irradiation.