Stable
isotope
168
Yb
170
Yb
171
Yb
172
Yb
173
Yb
174
Yb
176
Yb
Relative
atomic mass
167.933 89
169.934 77
170.936 33
171.936 39
172.938 22
173.938 87
175.942 58
Mole
fraction
0.001 23
0.029 82
0.140 86
0.216 86
0.161 03
0.320 25
0.129 95
Ytterbium isotopes in industry
169
Yb emits gamma rays and can be used to create a radiographic image of an object without the
use of electricity. A capsule containing 169Yb is placed on one side of the object being screened
and photographic film is placed on the other. The result will indicate flaws in metal casting or
welded joints [496-498]. Gamma cameras use 169Yb as a radiation source (Figure 1). Gamma
cameras are used to locate sealed radioactive sources and hot spots in historical waste. Images of
the gamma ray intensity are made and then the 2-D distribution is superimposed on a picture or
video image [498-500].
171
Yb is being studied for use in an atomic clock making use of a ytterbium optical lattice
(formed by the interference of counter-propagating laser beams) (Figure 2) [498, 501-503].
Fig. 1: Gamma cameras are typically used to identify radioactive holdup (material that does not
come out of a process as product or waste). The picture to the left is of a tank and the picture to
the right shows the radioactivity in the tank. (Photo Source: International Atomic Energy
Agency, 2008) [499].
Fig. 2: The insides of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) optical atomic
clock. The red rings are magnetic coils and the red laser beam is an optical lattice. The intersecting
violet lasers cool the ytterbium atoms. (Image Source: National Institute of Standards and
Technology, 2006) [503].
Ytterbium isotopes in medicine
In the treatment of prostate cancer with brachytherapy seed implants, 169Yb has been suggested
as an alternative to using 125I and 103 Pd [504, 505].
Ytterbium isotopes used as a source of radioactive isotope(s)
The radioisotope 169Yb is manufactured using 168Yb via the reaction 168Yb (n, γ) 169Yb
[102, 498].
Glossary
atomic number (Z) – The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
brachytherapy – the treatment of cancer, especially prostate cancer, by the insertion of
radioactive implants directly into the tissue near the tumor. [return]
electron – elementary particle of matter with a negative electric charge and a rest mass of about
9.109 × 10–31 kg.
element (chemical element) – a species of atoms; all atoms with the same number of protons in
the atomic nucleus. A pure chemical substance composed of atoms with the same number of
protons in the atomic nucleus [703].
gamma camera (scintillation camera or Anger camera) – instrument used to track the
distribution in body tissue of radioactive isotopes (tracers) that emit gamma radiation (high
energy photons), a technique known as scintigraphy.[return]
gamma rays (gamma radiation) – a stream of high-energy electromagnetic radiation given off
by an atomic nucleus undergoing radioactive decay. The energies of gamma rays are higher
than those of X-rays; thus, gamma rays have greater penetrating power. [return]
half-life (radioactive) – the time interval that it takes for the total number of atoms of any
radioactive isotope to decay and leave only one-half of the original number of atoms.
isotope – one of two or more species of atoms of a given element (having the same number of
protons in the nucleus) with different atomic masses (different number of neutrons in the
nucleus). The atom can either be a stable isotope or a radioactive isotope.
neutron – an elementary particle with no net charge and a rest mass of about 1.675 × 10–27 kg,
slightly more than that of the proton. All atoms contain neutrons in their nucleus except for
protium (1H).
proton – an elementary particle having a rest mass of about 1.673 × 10–27 kg, slightly less than
that of a neutron, and a positive electric charge equal and opposite to that of the electron. The
number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is the atomic number.
radioactive decay – the process by which unstable (or radioactive) isotopes lose energy by
emitting alpha particles (helium nuclei), beta particles (positive or negative electrons), gamma
radiation, neutrons or protons to reach a final stable energy state.
radioactive isotope (radioisotope) – an atom for which radioactive decay has been
experimentally measured (also see half-life). [return]
stable isotope – an atom for which no radioactive decay has ever been experimentally measured.
tracer - substance used for tracking purposes.
X-rays – electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength ranging from 0.01 to 10 nanometers—
shorter than those of UV rays and typically longer than those of gamma rays.
References
102. W. N. Association. Radioisotopes in Industry: Industrial Uses of Radioisotopes. World
Nuclear Association. 2014 Feb. 24. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf56.html
496. M. Senthilingam, Natrajan, L., and Clegg, B. Chemistry in its element- ytterbium. Royal
Society of Chemistry. 2014 Feb. 25.
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/podcast/Interactive_Periodic_Table_Transcripts/Ytterbium.a
sp
497. H. Yamabayashi. Radioisotopes. 43 (5), 296 (1994).
498. T. S. I. Inc. Ytterbium Isotopes. Trace Sciences International Inc. 2014 Feb. 25.
http://www.tracesciences.com/yb.htm
499. I. A. E. Agency. IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES. 23 (2008).
500. D. Vnuk. In 37th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management
(1996).
501. T. H. a. P. Yoon, C.Y. Laser Physics. 15 (7), 1087 (2005).
502. T. F. D. Physics Laboratory. Yb Lattice-Based Optical Clock. National Institute of
Standards and Technology. 2014 Feb. 25. http://tf.nist.gov/ofm/calcium/ybhome.htm
503. N. I. o. S. a. Technology. Experimental Atomic Clock Uses Ytterbium ‘Pancakes’.
National Institute of Standards and Technology. 2014 Feb. 25.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2006_0306.htm#pancakes
504. . International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (2006).
505. G. R. Lazarescu, and Battista, J.J. Physics in Medicine & Biology. 42 (9), 1727 (1997).
703. I. U. o. P. a. A. Chemistry. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold
Book"). Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997).