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INL reports findings on unusual quantum behavior of plutonium
Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory have discovered that plutonium hexaboride (PuB6) displays a type of unusual quantum property called a topological Kondo insulating state. Materials with this property are neither typical electricity conductors nor regular insulators. Rather, they have exterior surfaces that strongly conduct electricity and interiors that block electricity.
David A. Petti, Zoel R. Martinson, Richard R. Hobbins, Daniel J. Osetek
Nuclear Technology | Volume 94 | Number 3 | June 1991 | Pages 313-335
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT91-A15812
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Highly irradiated fuel rods and control rods are used in the Power Burst Facility Severe Fuel Damage (SFD) Test 1-4 to simulate conditions expected during a high-temperature, severe fuel damage accident in a pressurized water reactor. The objective of the test is to provide data on fuel and control rod behavior, hydrogen generation, and the release and transport of fission products and aerosols during severe accidents. Important results from the test based upon the response of on-line instrumentation, analysis of fission product and aerosol data, and postirradiation examination of the fuel bundle are presented. The results from SFD 1-4 provide insight into phenomena governing fuel bundle thermal response, Zircaloy oxidation and hydrogen generation, control rod degradation behavior, core melt progression, fission product release, aerosol generation, and fission product and aerosol deposition and transport.