Technology benefits associated with accelerator production of tritium

Conference · Thu Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:314134

Tuyle, G.J. van

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 about 5.5% per year; 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 ten years. 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. This report addresses those technology benefits.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 314134
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--98-3060; CONF-981106--; ON: DE99001765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ACCELERATORS
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
PROTON BEAMS
PROTON RADIOGRAPHY
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TRANSMUTATION
TRITIUM
USES