PHYSICS OF AMERICIUM TRANSMUTATION

Transmutation characteristics in thermal and fast neutron spectra: application to americium

In this paper, a method is introduced which allows a quick and accurate evaluation of the overall transmutation rate of a nuclide in fast and thermal neutron spectra. The method is applied to Am, a main contributor to the waste toxicity in the nuclear fuel cycle. Results show good agreement with the detailed calculations using ORIGEN code. 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The unveiled states of americium.

Polyneutron Theory of Transmutation

Polyneutron theory postulates that large clusters of neutrons are bound and stable against strong decay and that their interactions with ordinary nuclei are responsible for a new class of low temperature nuclear phenomena. It is postulated that these clusters, also termed polyneutrons or neutron isotopes, grow to include hundreds of neutrons in chain reactions fueled by isotopes such as H, O an...

Transmutation of Fission Products

Studies of transmutation of long-lived fission products by accelerator and by fission reactor at PNC are described. Four transmutation methods by accelerators are compared in terms of transmutation energy and transmutation rate. A super-powered electron linear accelerator which could transmute a large quantity of fission products has been studied and development of PNC test linac in this line i...

Many-body electronic structure of americium metal.

We report computer based simulations of energetics, spectroscopy, and electron-phonon interaction of americium using a novel spectral density functional method. This approach gives rise to a new concept of a many-body electronic structure and reveals the unexpected mixed valence regime of Am 5f6 electrons which under pressure acquire the 5f7 valence state. This explains the unique properties of...