Fermium Production

Fermium is obtained on cyclotron bombardment of Thorium, Uranium or Plutonium by accelerated ions of Nitrogen, Helium or Carbon, respectively as well as by neutron irradiation of Plutonium, Curium or Californium in reactors. ²⁵⁷Fm is produced in largest quantities, around 10⁹ atoms annually. In optimal conditions several µgs of ²⁵⁷Fm may be synthesized from 1gramm of ²⁵²Cf.

The first Fermium had been produced by simultaneous neutron trapping by Uranium with consequent β^--decay.

²³⁸U₉₂ + 17n -> ²⁵⁵U₉₂ --(8β^-)--> ²⁵⁵Fm₁₀₀