Californium

Uses of Californium
Californium-252 (half-life of 2.645 years) is produced in nuclear reactors and has found a variety of uses. It is used as a neutron emitter, providing neutrons for the start-up of nuclear reactors. It has also been used as a target material for producing transcalifornium elements. Ununoctium, the heaviest of the elements, was produced when a californium target was bombarded with calcium ions.