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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.
Masao Hamada, Kunio Uehara, Kazuyoshi Muramatsu, Takanobu Kamei, Tetsuo Tamaoki, Mitsuaki Yamaoka, † Yukio Sonoda, Yuji Sano, Masuo Sato, Takayuki Sudo
Nuclear Technology | Volume 98 | Number 1 | April 1992 | Pages 1-13
Technical Paper | Fast Reactor Safety / Fission Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT92-A34646
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Detection and location of failed fuel in a liquidmetal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) are very important both for safety and availability. When a fuel failure is detected, it is desirable to identify the failed subassembly quickly to reduce plant shutdown time. The flux tilting method is expected to effectively identify the defective subassembly. The feasibility of the flux tilting method is investigated for an LMFBR with a 1000-MW(electric) homogeneous core. A numerical simulation is performed to estimate the viability of the flux tilting method, and a combination of the flux tilting method and the sipping method is found to be very effective in identifying the failed subassembly. A functional scheme for a computer-aided failed fuel detection and location system is discussed as part of a future online support system.