UV dominant optical emission newly detected from radioisotopes and XRF sources

Abstract

The current paper reports first and definite experimental evidence for γ, X-, or β radiation causing UV dominant optical radiation from (1) radiochemicals such as 131I; (2) XRF sources such as Rb XRF source present as salts; and (3) metal sources such as 57Co, and Cu XRF sources. Due to low quantum yield a need arose to develop two techniques with narrow band optical filters, and sheet polarizers that helped in the successful detection of optical radiation. The metal 57Co spectrum observed at room temperature hinted that it could be optical emission from excited 57Co atoms by a previously unknown phenomenon. In order to explain UV emission, it was predicted that some eV energies higher than that of UV, termed temporarily as Bharat radiation are generated within the excited atom, while γ, X-, or β radiation passes through core-Coulomb field. In turn, the Bharat energy internally produced within the excited atom causes UV dominant high-energy spectrum by valence excitation. As excited atoms become free from surrounding unexcited atoms by valence excitation, room temperature atomic spectra of solid radioisotopes and XRF sources became a possibility. It implies existence of temporary atomic state of solids. The experimental evidence that γ, X-, and β radiations causing UV dominant optical emission from within excited atoms of radioisotopes suggests the possibility for solar γ, X-, and β radiations causing EUV by the atomic phenomenon described here.