The new isotope ${\mathrm{E}}^{248}$ has been identified among the products of the deuteron bombardment of ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{249}$. It decays principally by electron capture with a half-life of 25±5 minutes and also by the emission of (6.87±0.02)-Mev alpha particles. A branching ratio ($\frac{\mathrm{E}.\mathrm{C}.\mathrm{}}{\alpha }$) of ∼400 was determined from the amount of ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{248}$ formed by electron-capture decay of the new isotope. Partial excitation functions supporting the assignment to mass number 248 are presented.

• Received 7 August 1956

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.104.1314