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Rare Proton Emission in Astatine Isotope

Why in the News?

In a groundbreaking discovery, an international team of nuclear physicists from Finland has measured the proton emission and half-life of 188Astatine (188At)—the heaviest proton-emitting isotope ever observed.

What is Proton Emission?  

  • Atomic Structure: Atoms are made up of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.
  • Radioactive Decay: When atoms are unstable, they become stable by emitting particles through a process called radioactive decay.
  • Common Emissions: Most atoms emit alpha particles, beta particles, or gamma rays during decay.
  • Rare Emission: In very rare cases, an atom can emit a proton, a process known as proton emission.
  • Conditions for Emission: Proton emission occurs only in proton-rich nuclei that lie on the extreme edge of nuclear stability.
  • Detection Difficulty: These atoms are extremely hard to create in laboratories and usually exist for less than a second, making them hard to study.

Discovery of Proton Emission in 188-Astatine:

  • What is Astatine: Astatine (At) is a radioactive, halogenous element with atomic number 85, belonging to the halogen family (Group 17) on the periodic table. It’s a rarest natural element on Earth, not naturally occurring in significant quantities due to its short half-life.
  • Research Breakthrough: Scientists from Finland, India, and Portugal jointly studied a rare isotope called 188-Astatine.
  • Method: The atom was made by bombarding a silver target with strontium ions in a high-powered accelerator.
  • Observed Event: After its formation, 188-Astatine emitted a proton and transformed into polonium within 190 microseconds.
  • Role of Indian Scientists: Experts from IIT Roorkee used computer simulations to confirm the event and revealed that the atom’s shape resembled a watermelon, elongated and stretched.

Significance of the Discovery:

  • Scientific First: This was the first recorded instance of proton emission from astatine, a rare and heavy element.
  • Understanding Atomic Limits: The discovery helps scientists learn how unstable atoms behave and where the proton-holding limits of atomic nuclei lie.
  • Contribution to Nuclear Science: It enhances our understanding of element formation in extreme environments like stars and nuclear reactors.
  • Future Implications: Such discoveries can contribute to medical advances, especially in developing radioactive materials for cancer treatment.
[UPSC 2024] With reference to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), consider the following statements:

1. RTGs are miniature fission reactors. 2. RTGs are used for powering the onboard systems of spacecrafts. 3. RTGs can use Plutonium-238, which is a by-product of weapons development.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only* (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

 

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