Match 14, 1950

w. H. WELLS ETAL

2,500,223

ARTIFICIAL ATOMIC DISINTEGRATION

Filed Dec. 19, 1946

75 Vacuum Pump

2.
7

WITNESSES:

INVENTORS

'

William H Mel/s, Wf'lliam E.$1pbens

v William 5. $1701.90}: &BI;oberI QHzzxb/u.

ATTORNE

Patented Mar. 14, 1950

2,500,223

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,500,223
ARTIFICIAL ATOMIC DISINTEGRATION
William H. Wells, Forest Hills, William E. Ste

phens, Philadelphia, and William E. Shoupp,

Wilkinsburg, ~Pa., and Robert 0. Haxby, La

Fayette, Ind., assignors to Westinghouse Elec

tric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a cor

poration of Pennsylvania

Application December 19, 1946, Serial No. 717,292

8 Claims.

(Cl. 204154)

Our invention relates to arti?cial atomic dis

integration, and has particular relation to ?ssion
of materials. This application is a continuation
in-part of our application Serial No. 339,586 for
Arti?cial atomic disintegration ?led June 8, 1940,
which has been abandoned.

?uoride or aluminum ?uoride with protons. Our

investigations indicate, moreover, that although

the radiation mentioned is singularly useful for
the purpose of producing ?ssion, gamma rays of

some, although not all, other frequencies may be

used with results su?iciently good for some pur
poses. Most e?ective results follow if the gamma

Fission is the division of the atomsof an ele

ment into a plurality of sub-atoms of smaller

rays fall in the range about 6,000,000 or more

atomic weight. This phenomenon should be dis

tinguished from the atomic disintegration which
occurs when the electrons, neutrons, alpha par

electron volts.
The novel features that we consider charac
teristic of our invention are set forth with par

ticles or protons are derived from a substance.

In the case of ?ssion, the disintegration, of an
atom results in two or more sub-atoms of sub

ticularity in the appended claims. The invention

itself, however, both as to its organization and
its method of operation, together with additional
objects and advantages thereof, will be best
understood from the following description of a
speci?c embodiment when read in connection
with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an

stantial atomic weight. Where atoms are de

prived of their component electrical particles by
ionization or bombardment, the result is a num

ber of electrons, neutrons, alpha particles or

protons and a somewhat modi?ed element having
atomic weight not far different than the original

undisintegrated element.

Since the sub-atoms produced by ?ssion may

be radioactive, the phenomenon is of importance
to therapy and other ?elds in which radioactivity
is useful. In addition, when ?ssion occurs the
intrinsic potential energy of the original atoms
is converted into kinetic energy manifested by
the motion of the sub-atoms. The kinetic energy
may be converted into heat, and thus the energy
of ?ssion may be used for power or motive pur- '

poses.

The conversion of external energy into

energy of ?ssion is in itself not highly e?icient

if the only conversion considered is that pro,
duced by the incident energy. However, ?ssion
is accompanied by the emission of radiation and

particles which tends to produce further ?ssion,

and thus the original incident energy may ef
fect the release of a substantial quantity of
energy.
In accordance with the teachings of the prior

art, ?ssion is produced by projecting neutrons

on the element to be disintegrated.
It is an object of our invention to provide a
novel method for producing ?ssion._ ,

Another object of our invention is to produce

?ssion by the projection of radiant energy rather
than by particles.
' An incidental object of our invention is to

provide a method for e?ectively destroying un

desired cellular growth.

'

' In accordance with our invention, ?ssion is

produced by projecting gamma rays of certain

frequencies on the element to be disintegrated.
We have found that the phenomenon is pro
duced to a marked extent by projecting gamma
rays, the frequency of which corresponds to ra
diations having an energy equivalent of the or

der of 6,000,000 electron volts on, the uranium

or thorium target.

embodiment of our invention; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic showing of a modi
?ed embodiment of a portion of Fig. 1.
The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a
dome-shaped enclosure l within which a cham

ber 3, projecting from the top of an evacuated

cylinder 5, extends. Within the chamber 3 a
?lamentary cathode 1 of the usual oxide-cathode
type and a cooperative anode 9 are mounted.
The cathode is heated from a suitable power
source II, and a potential is impressed between
the anode 9 and cathode I from a second power

source l3. The chamber 3 is in communication

with the cylinder 5 through a conductive capil

lary tube I5.

The cylinder 5 is made up of a stack of in

sulating rings I! separated by conducting toroidal

disks is. From opposite sides of each of the
disks l9, fan-shaped conducting arms 2| extend
radially. Conducting rings 23 are secured to
the arms in such manner that they extend co

axial with the insulating rings. The insulating

rings are preferably composed of porcleain and
are sealed by compression to the disks l9 in such
manner that the cylinder 5 is vacuum-tight.
The capillary tube 15 opens into a cup-shaped
conductor 25, the rim of which is co-extensive
with the conducting rings 23. The cylinder 5

is closed by another cup-shaped conductor 21,

of the same diameter as the insulating rings II.
The latter cup-shaped conductor 21 is open at
the center and a cylindrical conducting tube
29 extends from the opening. The tube 29- is in
communication with a prism-shaped chamber
3|, from the lower end of which a closed con
' ducting cup-shaped pocket 33 extends eccentri

cally. A target 35, which is preferably ?uorine

but may for many practical purposes be calcium
?uoride (CaF-i) or aluminum ?uoride (AlFs), or

Gamma rays of this fre

any ?uorine containing substance, is disposed in
quency may be produced by bombarding calcium 50 the
pocket 33.

2,500,223
,

Where i?uorine is to constitute the target it

may be contained within a chamber having thin

acter and ;is manifested by the flow of a current

impulse through the electrode 45, which is indi

cated on the instrument 41.

A number of ?ssion reactions are produced
duces none, or few, neutrons when bombarded by
hydrogen, as described below in the path of the 5 when gamma rays impinge. on the uranium or the
thorium. One characteristic reaction may be ex-
ions.
pressed as follows:
The cylinder 5 and the regions with which it

walls of aluminum or some substance which pro

communicates are ?rst evacuated.

With the

evacuating equipment continuously in operation,

Gamma ray+U235+Xel37+Sr95+3 neutrons+

200,000,000 electron volts.

hydrogen is supplied to the chamber "31 at a pres 10

In accordance with this reaction,
sure preferably of the order of from 10-2 to 10-3
atomic weight 238 when irradiated
millimeters of mercury. The potential I3 pro
rays produces xenon of atomic
duces a discharge between the anode 9 and the
strontium of atomic weight 95, 3
cathode l, ionizing the hydrogen in the chamber.v

uranium of
with gamma
weight 137,
neutrons of

A high potential is .impressed between the 15 atomic weight 1, and 200,000,000 electron volts of

capillary tube 15 .and the :cup .21 of the cylinder

.5, maintaining the capillary tube 15 electrically

negative relative to the cup ~21.

The hydrogen

ions are under the influence of the axial ?eld

thus produced along the cylinder v5 and are pro

jected along the cylinder. The relative dimen

sions of the capillary tube 5.5 and the cylinder .5,
and the rate of evacuation are preferably such
that the pressure in the cylinder 5 isof the order
of .trom l04 to 10-5 millimeters of mercury. In
accordance with a preferred practice of our .in

vention, the potential impressed along the cyl

inderb lies .between_2-and.3.2 million volts. The
ionvcurrent is .of the order of .5 microampere. To

energy.

In addition,

gamma rays are also

emitted, ?rst, because the xenon and the stron

tium are radioactive, and, second, because the
reaction itself results in gamma rays. If su?i
cient neutrons and gamma rays are produced,
they may in the end convert substantial nuclear
potential energy into kinetic energy. The fore
going reaction .is not the only one which takes
place. It is given only for the purpose of

example.
Use of .a target '35 consisting of the element
?uorine results in irradiating the uranium or
thorium target 63 with gamma rays unaccom

panied by neutrons. When calcium ?uoride

distribute the potential uniformly along the axis 30 targets are used, .a vfew neutrons are mixed with
of the tube, the toroidal :disks l9 are each pro
vided with a pointed conductor 3'! which extends

perpendicular to its surface towards the adjacent

the gamma rays .but we have demonstrated by

careful tests that these .play no perceptible part

in causing ?ssion-of the uranium or thorium, but

that the later is, in our apparatus, produced by

disk. ~The corona discharge between the con
ductors 3-! and the adjacent disks e?ects aisub- ..~ the gamma rays. However, even these neutrons
from the calcium fluoride or aluminum .?uoride
stantially uniform distribution of potential along
the cylinder 5.
The ionized hydrogen atoms which are pro

jected along the cylinder .5 are principally of

three types. There is a single atom, anionized ,
molecule made up of two atoms of hydrogen, and
an ionized molecule made up of three atoms of

hydrogen.

The ionized hydrogen atom having

targets may be .prevented .from striking the

uranium or thorium by the arrangement shown
in Fig. '2. In that arrangement -a block of paraffin
5| is interposed between the target 35 and the
work substance 4.3, and the lower face of the
para?in is faced with a layer .52 of cadmium
su?iciently thick to remove all neutrons. The
gamma rays .pass this cadmium layer and the
work substance 43 is thus bombarded by a pure
stream of gamma radiation.
Experiment has .shown that the ?ssion cross
section of uraniumior gamma rays from ?uorine
is 3.5i0.8><1027 cm.2 and that of thorium is

the smallest mass has the highest velocity and is

capable of transferring the .most energy per atom
to the target 35. To facilitate computation, it is
desirable that only the ionized atoms impinge on
the target. For this reason a magnet-39 encircles
the tube 29 near the lower end with its poles ex
tending on opposite sides of the vtube. The mag 59 l.7:0.6><1~0-27~cm.2, while the corresponding ?g
ures for neutrons are about 1,000 times greater.
net produces a?eld perpendicular to the plane
These ?ssion cross-sections are proportional with
determined by the :axis of the cylinder 5 and
the probability that emission of one gamma ray
the line between the center of the target 35 and
quantum, in the one case, or emission of a neu
the center-of the ?eld of the magnet. The ionized
atoms are de?ected towards the target 35 by the 55 tron, in the other case, will produce ?ssion in
a centimeter cube of the corresponding substance
magnetic ?el'drand the two-atom and three-atom
positioned one meter .from the radiating source.
molecules are absorbed in the wall of the
The probability that a neutron will produce
chamber M. The ions impinge on the target -35
and produce gamma rays having an energy

?ssion, is accordingly, considerably higher than

an the probability that a gamma ray quantum will

eqnivalentof 6,000,000 electron volts.
do so, and the neutrons swamp the effect of
Below the pocket 33 an ionizing chamber 4! is
gamma radiation where both are present in force.
disposed. Within the chamber 44 a disk 43 of
This
doubtless explains why Fermi in an article
uranium or thorium is disposed. The gamma
Arti?cial
radioactivity produced by neutron
rays emitted from the target 35 impinge on the
disk 43 and produce ?ssion. The ?ssion maybe 65 bombardment, Proceedings of the Royal Society
of London, .September 1934, page 484, states that
measured by the extent of the ionization pro
his
experiments showed that he produced ?ssion
duced within the chamber M. For this purpose
of uranium by means of neutrons, although he
an electrode vd5 extends into the chamber. The
recognized that the uranium was being bom
electrode is connected to an indicating .ins-trtb
70
barded
by a mixture of neutrons with gamma
ment M, such as an cscillograph, through suit
radiation. Fermi stated that his test showed it
able amplifying equipment 40. Certain of the
to be most unlikely that the observed effects :are
sub-atoms produced by the gamma rays are -re
in
any way connected with this gamma radia
leased from the disk 43 and produce substantial
tion. Fermis stated "results seem not to be in
ionization within the (chamber. The ionization
may be detected because it is of an abrupt char 75 conflict with our discoveries as to the --e?ect on

2,500,223

uranium of a stream of gamma radiation sub

stantially free from neutrons capable of produc

ing ?ssion.
Because of the ionization which is produced in
the practice of our invention, it is peculiarly

adapted for destroying undesired cellular growth.

In the practice of this aspect of our invention,
uranium or thorium compounds are injected in,
in the region adjacent to or in the region en

protons with an energy of substantially three

' million electron volts on an aluminum ?uoride

target and subjecting said substance to the re

sultant gamma rays of an energy of at least six
million electron volts emitted by said target. '
6. The method of producing a ?ssion of a sub
stance drawn from the group consisting of ura

nium and thorium, which comprises projecting

protons with an energy of substantially three
circling the cellular growth. The injected region 10 million electron volts on a calcium ?uoride target
is then subject to gamma rays from the target
and subjecting said substance to the resultant
25. The ionization and radiation resulting from
gamma rays of an energy of at least six million
the ?ssion destroys the growth.
electron volts emitted by said target after pass

While we have described hydrogen ions, or

ing said rays through a ?lter which comprises
protons, as the agency for producing gamma rays, 15 a layer containing hydrogen and a layer contain
other means of generating such rays may be used
ing calcium.
for many purposes; for example, electrons of over
7. The method of producing a ?ssion of a sub
6,000,000 electron volts energy incident upon such
stance drawn from the group consisting of ura
a target as tungsten will produce the gamma rays.
nium and thorium, which comprises projecting
Certain further information connected with 20 protons with an energy of substantially three
our invention appears in our article Photo
million electron volts on a calcium ?uoride target
?ssion of uranium and thorium, beginning at
and subjecting said substance to the resultant
page 5'7 of volume 59, and our letter of similar
gamma rays of an energy of at least six million
title on page 92 of volume 58 of the Physical
electron volts emitted by said target after pass
Review, Second Series, published by the American 25 ing said rays through a ?lter which comprises
Institute of Physics.
a layer containing para?in and a layer containing
Although we have shown and described certain
calcium.
speci?c embodiments of our invention, we are
8. The method of producing ?ssion of a sub
fully aware that many modi?cations thereof are
stance drawn from the group consisting of ura

possible. Our invention, therefore, is not to be 30 nium and thorium, which comprises projecting
restricted except insofar as is necessitated by
protons with an energy of substantially three
the prior art and by the spirit of the appended
'million electron volts on a target consisting of
claims.

material drawn from the group which consists of

calcium ?uoride and aluminum ?uoride, and sub
35 jecting said substance to the resultant gamma
prises the step of subjecting a member of the
rays of an energy of at least six million electron
group consisting of uranium and thorium to a
volts emitted by said target after passing said rays
bombarding stream consisting only of gamma
through a ?lter comprising a layer containing
rays having an energy of above 6,000,000 elec
hydrogen and a layer containing calcium.
tron Volts.
40
WILLIAM H. WELLS.
2. The method of producing ?ssion of a sub
WILLIAM E. STEPHENS.
stance drawn from the group consisting of ura
WILLIAM E. SHOUPP.
nium and thorium, which comprises projecting
ROBERT O. HAXBY.
protons with an energy of substantially three
million electron volts on a calcium ?uoride target, 45
REFERENCES CITED
and subjecting said substance to gamma rays of
The following references are of record in the
at least six million electron volts emitted by said
?le of this patent:
target.
3. The method of producing ?ssion of a sub
UNITED STATES PATENTS
stance drawn from the group consisting of ura 50
Number
Name
Date
nium and thorium, which comprises projecting
917,191
Trivelli ___________ __ Apr. 6, 1909
protons with an energy of substantially three
2,206,634
Fermi et al _________ __ July 2, 1940
million electron volts on a target consisting of
FOREIGN PATENTS
a material drawn from the group consisting of
calcium ?uoride and aluminum ?uoride, and sub 55 Number
Country
Date
jecting said substance to the resultant gamma
314,427
Great Britain ______ __ Dec. 1, 1930
rays of an energy of at least six million electron
440,023
Great Britain _____ __ Dec. 12, 1935
We claim as our invention:

1. A method of causing ?ssion which com

volts emitted by said target.

4. The method of producing ?ssion of a sub

stance drawn from the group consisting of ura 60

nium and thorium, which comprises projecting

electrically-charged particles, drawn from the
group which consists of electrons and protons,

OTHER REFERENCES
Herb et al., Physical Review, vol. 51, No. 9, pp.
691-608, May 1, 1937.
Roberts et al., Physical Review, vol. 55, pp.
416-417 (1939).
Delsasso et al., Physical Review, vol. 51, page

on a target consisting of a material from the

group which consists of calcium ?uoride, alumi 65 527 (1937).
num ?uoride and tungsten, with an energy suf
Bohr et al., Physical Review, vol. 56, pp. 449-450
?cient to cause said target to emit gamma rays
(1939).
of an energy of at least six million electron volts
Physical Review, pp. 284-286, Aug. 1, 1939.
and subjecting said subject to said gamma rays.
Review Physical Chemistry, Japan, vol. 13, pp.
5. The method of producing ?ssion of a sub 70 145-150 (1939).
stance drawn from the group consisting of ura
' Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,

nium and thorium, which comprises projecting

vol. 146, pp. 483-500, Sept. 1934.