Fuel content characterization and pressure retention measurements of DT-filled laser fusion microballoon targets

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.325696· OSTI ID:6497528

Deckman, H W; Halpern, G M

We have developed a nondestructive assay of the fule content of deuterium-tritium (DT) -filled microballoon laser fusion targets, which is based on ..beta..-particle counting rates. Using a model employing transmission measurements of kilovolt electrons through thin films, observed count rates are correlated with the amount of tritium in the glass walls and hollow interior of the microballoons. It has been shown that gas pressure in balloons can be calculated from tritium content and a knowledge of the initial gas composition since D and T were found to leak at the same rate. This assay technique is primarily applicable for balloons with glass wall thicknesses <1.5 ..mu..m where the number of escaping ..beta.. particles is large compared with the number of x-ray photons generated in the glass. The technique has been applied to measure the pressure retention characteristics of individual targets. At room temperature, the balloons exhibited widely diverse and rapid leakage rates which could not be correlated with a model based on molecular diffusion and the assumption that all balloons had a homogeneous composition. Cryogenic storage greatly reduced the leakage rates with pressure retention half-lives ranging from 5 to approximately 12 years. Finally, it was determined that tritium in the glass wall is trapped and evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that it is uniformly distributed across the shell.

• Research Organization: Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Linden, New Jersey 07036
• OSTI ID: 6497528
• Journal Information: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 50:1; ISSN JAPIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700205* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Fuel
Heating
&amp; Injection Systems
BETA DECAY
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DETECTION
BETA SPECTROSCOPY
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHARGED PARTICLE DETECTION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DECAY
DETECTION
DEUTERIUM
FUELS
GAS ANALYSIS
GLASS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROSPHERES
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIOISOTOPES
SPECTROSCOPY
STABLE ISOTOPES
TARGETS
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
TRITIUM
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES