Americium-243

Americium-243

Americium-243, an alpha emitter, has a half-life of 7350 years, the longest of all americium isotopes. It is formed in the nuclear fuel cycle mainly by neutron capture on plutonium-242 followed by beta decay. Production increases exponentially with increasing burnup as a total of 5 neutron captures on U are required. If MOX-fuel is used, particularly MOX-fuel high in
Pu and
Pu, more americium overall and more
Am will be produced.