Abstract

We introduce a concept of laser-generated neutrons to transmute transuranic elements separated from spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and dissolved in a molten salt to form a subcritical core whose liquid state allows and facilitates safety, laser irradiation, and monitoring of chemical and physical properties. In this transmutation concept (the transmutator), the neutrons are generated via beam-target fusion whereas the beam is created by laser irradiation of nanometric foils through the Coherent Acceleration of Ions by Laser (CAIL) process. This relatively low deuteron energy is catapulted by fusion and eventually by secondary fission processes. The combination of the use of molten salt and laser allows us to introduce rapid feedback control of the system’s operation. The transmutator is an integral part of the partitioning and transmutation concept whereby the radiotoxicity of SNF is significantly reduced together with the required storage duration and volume. To enable this transmutator, we introduce integrated ideas and processes in the areas of lasers, neutronics, first-wall material, and chemistry.

摘要

我们引入了激光产生的中子的概念，以转变与废核燃料（SNF）分离并溶解在熔融盐中的超铀元素，形成亚临界堆芯，其液体状态允许并促进安全性，激光辐照以及化学和物理性质的监测。在这种trans变概念（trans变子）中，中子是通过束靶融合产生的，而束是通过激光的离子相干加速（CAIL）过程通过对纳米箔的激光辐照而产生的。这种相对较低的氘原子能通过聚变，并最终通过二次裂变过程而被弹射。熔融盐和激光的结合使用使我们能够对系统的运行进行快速反馈控制。mut变子是分配和trans变概念不可或缺的组成部分，因此SNF的放射毒性以及所需的储存时间和体积均显着降低。为了实现这种变相器，我们在激光，中子学，第一壁材料和化学领域引入了集成的思想和过程。