Studies on diffusion. Part I. Diffusion of radioactive matter through plates

Abstract

As a part of an attempt to develop new methods of measurement of diffusion constant of metals and non-metals into minerals using radioactivity techniques, expressions are derived to relate the processes of diffusion and the emission of alpha-particles under three sets of possible experimental conditions. The first case pertaisn to a plate whose thickness is equal to the characteristic range of the alpha-rays of the radio-nuclide used. Under the second case is considered a plate thicker than the characteristic range fo the alpha-rays in the plate. The third deals with cases wherein the radioactive matter used emits alpha-rays with different ranges less than the thickness of the plate.