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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.
Theodore H. Bauer, Thomas H. Braid, Karl Schleisiek
Nuclear Technology | Volume 99 | Number 3 | September 1992 | Pages 343-350
Technical Paper | Nuclear Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT92-A34718
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A technique is presented to quantify fuel damage in a liquid-metal reactor through fast-running computer analysis of delayed neutron data, suitable for analysis of both small-scale in-pile experiments and full-scale plants. Validating analyses are described for five in-pile severe accident simulations performed within the Sodium Loop Safety Facility and Mol-7C test programs. Comparison is made of measured and calculated amounts of fuel damage.