Comparison of radioactive and stable tl+ diffusion in potassium chloride: demonstration of a transmutation effect

Science. 1977 Jul 8;197(4299):159-61. doi: 10.1126/science.197.4299.159.

Abstract

Radioactive (204)Tl(+) was found to diffuse in potassium chloride up to three times more rapidly than stable Tl(+). The difference is attributed to the (204)Pb(2+) daughter element produced by beta(-)emission. A theoretical model accounts satisfactorily for the discrepancy and indicates that internal sources of cation vacancies are effective in maintaining electroneutrality at all but low temperatures.