High efficiency neutron capture product production
AssigneeResearch Triangle Institute
InventorNicholas Guy Baldasaro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for use with a neutron source for producing reaction-product nuclei from reactant nuclei includes a plurality of reactant nuclei and a plurality of moderating nuclei. The reactant nuclei and the moderating nuclei are configured to increase the probability of neutron capture by reactant nuclei to achieve enhanced ratios of neutron capture by reactant nuclei to neutron source neutron production. Moderating nuclei and neutron reflection are used to minimize neutron leakage. Temperature control, including cryogenic temperature control, may be used to enhance the rate or probability of reactant nuclei neutron capture. The reactant nuclei may include molybdenum-98 and reaction-product nuclei may include technetium-99m.
Claims22
An apparatus for producing reaction-product nuclei from reactant nuclei, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of reactant nuclei and a plurality of moderating nuclei wherein the moderating nuclei comprise nuclei of atoms that are chosen from a group consisting of deuterium, tritium, helium-4, lithium-7, beryllium, boron-11, carbon, nitrogen-15, oxygen, fluorine, neon-20 and neon-22;
- and
- a neutron source that is neither a nuclear reactor nor a subcritical assembly, in proximity to the reactant nuclei sufficient to produce reaction-product nuclei by neutron capture;
- wherein the reactant nuclei comprise molybdenum-98;
- wherein the rate of molybdenum-98 nuclei neutron capture divided by the rate of the neutron source's neutron production is greater than approximately 1%;
- wherein the mass of molybdenum-98 is less than approximately 1000 kg;
- and
- wherein the mass of moderating nuclei is at least 1 kg.
A system for producing a decay product from a reactant using a neutron source, comprising:
- a plurality of reactant nuclei and a plurality of moderating nuclei wherein the moderating nuclei comprise nuclei of atoms that are chosen from a group consisting of deuterium, tritium, helium-4, lithium-7, beryllium, boron-11, carbon, nitrogen-15, oxygen, fluorine, neon-20 and neon-22;
- and
- a neutron source;
- wherein the reactant nuclei comprise molybdenum-98;
- wherein the rate of molybdenum-98 nuclei neutron capture divided by the rate of the neutron source's neutron production is greater than approximately 1%;
- wherein the mass of molybdenum-98 is less than approximately 100 kg;
- and
- wherein the mass of moderating nuclei is at least 1 kg.
A system for producing reaction-product nuclei, comprising reactant nuclei, a neutron source in proximity to the reactant nuclei sufficient to produce reaction-product nuclei by neutron capture and wherein at least 100 g of the system is cooled to a temperature at or below approximately 250 Kelvin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.