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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.
Sergey I. Belousov, Krassimira D. Ilieva, Stoyan Y. Antonov
Nuclear Technology | Volume 111 | Number 2 | August 1995 | Pages 270-274
Technical Paper | Nuclear Criticality Safety Special / Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT95-A35136
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The neutron flux values at the sites important for the pressure vessels of the VVER-1000 and VVER-440 reactors have been calculated by the three-dimensional TORT code and the synthesis method approximation. The synthesis method is widely used now for neutron fluence routine calculations in metal embrittlement surveillance. The three-dimensional neutron flux evaluation by the synthesis method is based on the two-dimensional and one-dimensional solutions of the transport equation. The comparison of the results obtained by both methods confirms the good consistency within 3% for integral neutron flux with energy >0.5 MeV, used for metal damage estimation, according to Russian reactor standards. Further investigations on the calculation validity will be based on comparisons with measurements of the threshold detector activities, monitored in the air shell behind the reactor pressure vessels of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant.