Production of 242mAm

The isotope 242mAm is an interesting nuclide as it shows one of the known highest neutron fission cross-section. This could be useful in some special applications, like nuclear reactors for space propulsion, electricity production by direct energy conversion and small-core nuclear reactors. However its availability, in particular at high isotopic abundance, is at present a serious drawback.We have experimentally tested a growth model for the production of 242mAm by means of Am241(n,γ)Am242m reaction in thermal nuclear reactors. The obtained results are found to be in agreement with the model itself.