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From: hoffman@hdsvx1.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.sci
Subject: Re: Small Nuclear Bombs
Message-ID: <152@hdsvx1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 23-May-86 15:53:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: hdsvx1.152
Posted: Fri May 23 15:53:03 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 26-May-86 01:12:02 EDT
References: <358@drutx.UUCP> and many others ...
Reply-To: hoffman@hdsvx1.UUCP (Richard hoffman)
Organization: Schlumberger HDS, Houston
Lines: 19
Xref: watmath net.politics:16370 net.sci:948

In article <684@riccb.UUCP> jmc@riccb.UUCP (Jeff McQuinn ) writes:
>
>Californium, isn't that one of those wonderful man-made elements whose shelf
>life can be measured in microseconds? No wonder it's "theoretically" possible.

Actually, a lot of these "designer elements" have longer half-lives than you
might suspect.  We use them commercially to produce neutron and gamma sources,
and of course a decent longevity is a requirement.  We have considered the
use of Californium itself; Cf 249 has a half-life of 360 years and is happy
to spend them donating alpha particles to our cause, and occasionally          
undergoing spontaneous fission.  Other isotopes of Cf have half-lives ranging
from fractions of seconds to more than 800 years!

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea which isotope we will REALLY use, or if we will
decide to use Cf at all.  The above information is offered just as an example
of the existence of commercially useful, long-lived artificial isotopes, and
should not be construed as any indication of my company's plans or intentions.

--Richard Hoffman / Schlumberger Well Services / hoffman%hdsvx1@slb-doll.csnet