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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.
Hasna J. Khan, Hsiang S. Cheng, Upendra S. Rohatgi
Nuclear Technology | Volume 112 | Number 2 | November 1995 | Pages 155-168
Technical Paper | Nuclear Reactor Safety | doi.org/10.13182/NT95-A35170
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Analysis has been performed for an anticipated transient without scram (ATWS) event in a simplified boiling water reactor. Loss of feedwater heating initiated this ATWS, which was mitigated by the insertion of fine-motion control rods. Calculations with RAMONA-4B code show that reactivity insertion, through increase in subcooling to the core, results in a rise in the core power to a new equilibrium condition. Insertion of fine-motion control rods from the bottom of the core is found to shift the peak of the axial power distribution to the upper part of the core until eventual shutdown of the reactor occurs.