Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Production of Synthetic Nuclear Melt Glass
Published on: January 4, 2016
Comparisons between radioactive and non-radioactive gas lantern mantles
E Furuta1, Y Yoshizawa, T Aburai
1Radioisotope Research Center, Faculty of Science, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan. furuta@phys.ocha.ac.jp
Abstract:
Gas lantern mantles containing radioactive thorium have been used for more than 100 years. Although thorium was once believed to be indispensable for giving a bright light, non-radioactive mantles are now available. From the radioactivities of the daughter nuclides, we estimated the levels of radioactivity of 232Th and 228Th in 11 mantles. The mantles contained various levels of radioactivity from background levels to 1410 +/- 140 Bq. Our finding that radioactive and non-radioactive mantles are equally bright suggests that there is no advantage in using radioactive mantles. A remaining problem is that gas lantern mantles are sold without any information about radioactivity.
More Related Videos
10:29Experimental Methodology for Estimation of Local Heat Fluxes and Burning Rates in Steady Laminar Boundary Layer Diffusion Flames
Published on: June 1, 2016
07:52A Novel Technique for Raman Analysis of Highly Radioactive Samples Using Any Standard Micro-Raman Spectrometer
Published on: April 12, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Constant Volume Calorimetry
Types of Radioactivity
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
Photoluminescence: Applications
Flame Photometry: Overview
Flame Photometry: Lab