Preparation of High-Level Alpha-Particle Sources for the Surveyor Alpha Scattering Experiment

Thin high intensity alpha-particle sources were prepared for the NASA Surveyor Alpha Scattering Experiment. The alpha-active isotope used for this experiment was ²⁴²Cm prepared by neutron irradiation of ²⁴¹Am in a reactor. After irradiation the curium was separated from americium, fission products, and aluminum by liquid-liquid extraction, redox precipitation, and extraction chromatography techniques. The sources were prepared by vacuum sublimation of the curium onto stainless-steel plates, followed by carbon coating from a carbon arc and encapsulation for installation into the Alpha Scattering Instrument.