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Perpetual Atomics, QSA Global produce Am fuel for nuclear space power
U.K.-based Perpetual Atomics and U.S.-based QSA Global claim to have achieved a major step forward in processing americium dioxide to fuel radioisotope power systems used in space missions. Using an industrially scalable process, the companies said they have turned americium into stable, large-scale ceramic pellets that can be directly integrated into sealed sources for radioisotope power systems, including radioisotope heater units (RHUs) and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs).
J. K. Dickens
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 50 | Number 2 | February 1973 | Pages 98-107
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE73-A23233
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Interactions of neutrons with sodium have been studied by measuring gamma-ray-production cross sections. Spectra were obtained for incident mean neutron energies En = 4.85, 5.4, 5.9, 6.45, 7.0, and 7.5 MeV. Data were obtained at angles of 125 and 55 deg using Ge(Li) detectors. Time-of-flight was used to discriminate against pulses due to neutrons and background radiation.Absolute cross sections for production of gamma rays were obtained for the incident neutron energies quoted above. The data have been compared with previous inelastic neutron scattering results and evaluated cross sections, with good agreement. The spectra were studied for gamma rays which could be associated with deexcitation of nuclear levels having unknown decay modes. Gamma rays were found having energies appropriate for decay of levels at excitation energies Ex = 5762, 5934, 5967, 6115, 6576, and 6866 keV.