Production of Neutron-Rich Bi Isotopes by Electric Fields

The short time (similar to 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 mu sec. The conclusion was made that beta-decay of nuclei (212)Bi and the subsequent a-decay of nuclei (212)Po were recorded. The effect was reproduced in 28 experiments. The possible explanation of the phenomenon was given.