Nuclear reactivity control using laser induced polarization

Patent · Tue Nov 05 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7023974

Bowman, C D

This patent describes a control element for reactivity control of a fission source provides an atomic density of [sup 3]He in a control volume which is effective to control criticality as the [sup 3]He is spin-polarized. Spin-polarization of the [sup 3]He affects the cross section of the control volume for fission neutrons and hence, the reactivity. An irradiation source is directed within the [sup 3]He for spin-polarizing the [sup 3]He. An alkali-metal vapor may be included with the [sup 3]He where a laser spin-polarizes the alkali-metal atoms which in turn, spin-couple with [sup 3]He to spin-polarize the [sup 3]He atoms.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5063019; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-527457; TRN: 92-038227
• OSTI ID: 7023974
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 23 May 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
42 ENGINEERING
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
CONTROL ELEMENTS
HELIUM 3
INTERACTIONS
POLARIZATION
METAL VAPOR LASERS
ALKALI METALS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
FISSION NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR OPERATION
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY ENGINEERING
SPIN
ANGULAR MOMENTUM
BARYONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENGINEERING
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FERMIONS
GAS LASERS
HADRONS
HELIUM ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LASERS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
METALS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
OPERATION
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
POWER PLANTS
SAFETY
STABLE ISOTOPES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
220400* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Control Systems
220900 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
664400 - Experimentally Derived Information on Atomic & Molecular Properties- (1992-)
426002 - Engineering- Lasers & Masers- (1990-)