Heavy component of spent nuclear fuel: Efficiency of model-substance ionization by electron-induced discharge

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Physics of Atomic Nuclei

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063778816140027· OSTI ID:22612521

Gavrikov, A. V.; Samokhin, A. A.; Smirnov, V. P. ^[1]

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1. Russian Academy of Sciences, High Energy Density Research Center, Joint Institute for High Temperatures (Russian Federation)

The method of plasma separation of spent nuclear fuel can be tested with a model substance which has to be transformed from the condensed to plasma state. For this purpose, electron-induced discharge in lead vapor injected into the interelectrode gap is simulated using the kinetic approach. The ionization efficiency, the electrostatic-potential distribution, and those of the ion and electron densities in the discharge gap are derived as functions of the discharge-current density and concentration of the vapor of the model substance. Given a discharge-current density of 3.5 A/cm{sup 2} and a lead-vapor concentration of 2 × 10{sup 12} cm{sup –3}, the simulated ionization efficiency proves to be nearly 60%. The discharge in lead vapor is also investigated experimentally.

• OSTI ID: 22612521
• Journal Information: Physics of Atomic Nuclei, Vol. 79, Issue 14; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2016 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1063-7788
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CURRENT DENSITY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
FUEL CANS
IONIZATION
LEAD
PLASMA
POTENTIALS
SPENT FUELS
VAPORS