Production of Neutron-Rich Bi Isotopes by Electric Fields

The short time (∼10 minutes) high voltage electrolysis of nitrate bismuth solution was performed. After electrolysis about 30 mg of electrolyte have been dried up on a thin polyethylene film. The sample obtained was placed into the detecting system (Si detector and plastic detector). Alpha-radioactivity of the sample was measured. The results showed that alpha-radioactivity increased about 100 times to the base level. The radioactivity decreasing was about 2 times for 50 minutes. Some signals from the Si detector was accompanied by a signal from the electron detector (22 events). The signal from the plastic detector for all the events the electron recorded preceded the Si detector signal with delay less than 1.4 μsec. The conclusion was made that β-decay of nuclei 212Bi and the subsequent α-decay of nuclei 212Po were recorded. The effect was reproduced in 28 experiments. The possible explanation of the phenomenon was given.