7-radiation self-energy part

Extensive reviews on the subject of the decomposition of radiochemical compounds have emphasised how incomplete is our knowledge of this phenomenon [29-31]. Decomposition depends, in part, on the nature of the isotope and the specific activity of the compound. In general, the higher the specific activity and lower the maximum radiant energy, the greater will be the problem of decomposition. Thus, the almost complete absorption of J -radiation and the high specific activities that can be attained with tritium has made the control of self-radiolysis of tritiated compounds far more difficult than for compounds labelled with other isotopes. The various ways in which decomposition can arise have been classified by Bayly and Weigel [32] and are summarised in Table 4.3. 

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