Technology benefits associated with Accelerator Production of Tritium

Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:298349

Van Tuyle, G J ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

The Accelerator Production of Tritium (APT) offers a clean, safe, and reliable means of producing the tritium needed to maintain the nuclear deterrent. Tritium decays away naturally at a rate of {approximately}5.5%/yr; therefore, the tritium reservoirs in nuclear weapons must be periodically replenished. In recent years this has been accomplished by recycling tritium from weapons being retired from the stockpile. Although this strategy has served well since the last US tritium production reactor was shut down in 1988, a new tritium production capability will be required within 10 yr. Important technology benefits will result from direct utilization of some of the APT proton beam; others could result from advances in the technologies of particle accelerators and high-power spallation targets. These technology benefits are briefly discussed here.

• OSTI ID: 298349
• Report Number(s): CONF-981106--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 79; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ACCELERATORS
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
MEDICINE
PROTON BEAMS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
TRITIUM
USES