The fuel material used to irradiate the fluid is cesium-137. This is a radioactive material produced by nuclear reactions in nuclear power plants. It is used as a radiation source for medical purposes as well, so it is not too difficult to obtain it. The main problem is that getting enough of it can be expensive - it takes approximately 40 kg. of cesium-137 to make one hero.
Cesium-137 creates gamma radiation through nuclear decay. The cesium atoms are unstable, and so transform into more stable elements. When they do this, they give off energy as gamma radiation. The gamma radiation is important for transmogrification, because it has a high enough energy to change the DNA.
Other types of electromagnetic radiation could work. Ultraviolet radiation and X-rays are both very high-energy - but not as much as gamma radiation. It would take decades of exposure for a superhero to get powers in an ultraviolet transmogrifier, for example.
Cesium-137 creates gamma radiation through nuclear decay. The cesium atoms are unstable, and so transform into more stable elements. When they do this, they give off energy as gamma radiation. The gamma radiation is important for transmogrification, because it has a high enough energy to change the DNA.
Other types of electromagnetic radiation could work. Ultraviolet radiation and X-rays are both very high-energy - but not as much as gamma radiation. It would take decades of exposure for a superhero to get powers in an ultraviolet transmogrifier, for example.
The chemical symbol for Cesium-137
A sample of powdered cesium-137
Cesium-137 is highly radioactive and produces gamma radiation.
