Table 2.

Most suitable radioactive nuclides to generate cold plasma

Radioactive nuclides	Half life, (t1/2)	Specific power, W/g	Structure of radiated energy	Protection requirements	Methods of producing
Po210	138.376 days	140	Practically pure α rad. 5.49 MeV (insignif. γ or X-ray radiation)	Minimal	Subsoil (including extraction of CH4) Nuclear reactors
Pu238	87.6 years	0.568	Practically pure α rad. (with low level of γ and n)	Minimal	Processing of SNF
Am241	432.2 years	0.114	α-Radiation and γ	Average	Processing of SNF
Sr90	28.8 years	0.46	Practically pure β, but with secondary braking radiation	High	Processing of SNF
Cs137	30.17 years	~0.8	β-rad. and γ (not pure β rad.)	Maximal	Processing of SNF