Book Description
The purpose of the Los Alamos ATW (Accelerator Transmutation of nuclear Waste) project is to utilize a high-energy (800--1600 MeV), high current (25--60mA) proton beam to generate a large neutron flux for the transmutation of nuclear wastes. Our theoretical modeling efforts have been directed toward designing a device that will transmute the 2000 kg of Tc and I in the Hanford waste depository along with significant quantities of actinides. Previous system studies have indicated the feasibility of such a device. However, it required thirty years to transmute 2000 kg of Tc and 400 kg of Np. In the present work, we have expanded on the previous study and focused on a device which will significantly reduce the time required for the transmutation of the fission products. 3 refs., 1 tab.