Transmutation of elements

Abstract

Test for the transmutation in the tungsten target of an x-ray tube.—X-ray spectrograms of the tungsten target of a deep-therapy x-ray tube were taken before and after operating it for about 80 hours at 2-3 ma and 207 kv peak voltage. No lines other than those due to tungsten were found before or after. Test for transmutation of lead in a lead arc.—The experiments of Smits and Karssen with the lead arc were duplicated as nearly as possible. Under no conditions of current density was there any spectroscopic evidence of a transmutation of the lead to mercury. Test for transmutation of lead in a high potential discharge between lead electrodes in CS2.—The experiments of Smits and Karssen were carefully repeated. Some evidence of Hg in the residue from the electrodes was found. The indications are however, that the mercury comes from the electrodes, the carbon bisulphide or dust particles rather than from a transmutation of lead.