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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.
Takeshi Yokoo, Akihiro Sasahara, Tadashi Inoue, Jungmin Kang, Atsuyuki Suzuki
Nuclear Technology | Volume 116 | Number 2 | November 1996 | Pages 173-179
Technical Paper | Nuclear Fuel Cycle | doi.org/10.13182/NT96-A35298
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Core performance analyses are conducted for fast reactors that accept and recycle the plutonium and minor actinides (MAs) recovered from light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel, together with the plutonium and MAs from the fast reactors’ own production. Metal, nitride, and oxide are the fuel materials used to compare the neutronic and safety parameters and to discuss acceptable minor actinide content. Based on the material balance of the analyzed cores, an LWR-fast reactor fuel cycle model is used to calculate the mass flow of the plutonium and MAs and to estimate their total amount in the waste stream.