[Vo]:Detecting a transmutation - bismuth -> polonium

[Robert McKay]

Hi Vortex,

I was wondering what might be the best way to try transmuting bismuth 
into radioactive polonium. I was thinking something along the lines of 
taking some bismuth powder, loading it with pressurised deuterium or 
hydrogen gas that had been sparked with a spark plug for a while.. any 
chance that some of it might turn into polonium? Maybe mix some carbon 
dust in there too in case that helps.

Basically my thinking is that while calorimetry is tricky when dealing 
with low amounts of excess heat, it might be much easier to measure the 
presence of even tiny amounts of radioactivity. What do you think?

Cheers,
Rob