beryllium9

Beryllium9, also known as Be-9, is an isotope of the chemical element beryllium. It has 4 protons and 9 neutrons in its atomic nucleus and is stable. Despite being part of the stable isotopes of beryllium, Be-9 has a very low natural abundance in the Earth's crust, accounting for less than 0.1% of the naturally occurring beryllium isotopes.

The majority of Be-9 is produced artificially through the dispersion reactions of Li-9 and B-9 with other elements. The annual worldwide production of Be-9 is negligible due to its rarity in nature. However, its limited availability and specific characteristics make it an attractive material for certain applications.

Be-9 has a high melting point and is resistant to corrosion, which makes it suitable as a structural material in high-performance applications. Additionally, due to its low threshold for neutron-induced radioactive transmutations, it has the ability to trap helium and avoid corrosion in the radiation-exposed areas. These properties have led to the use of Be-9 as a key material in high-energy applications, radiation environments, and as calibrating standards for high-energy ion beams.

Be-9 research has gained significant interest in recent years, particularly in the fields of nuclear physics and experimental particle physics. Scientist are studying its properties to gain a better understanding and preparation for the observation of new isotopes. Many of these applications focus on using Be-9 as a stand-alone substance or as an alloy with other materials, including element mixtures like carbon and other low atomic number chemical compounds.