1. Nuclear Implications and Applications

2. Nuclear Power Source: Jim Zimmerlin, http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/DiabloCanyon.htmlhttp://www.zimfamilycockers.com/DiabloCanyon.html Diablo Canyon Power Plant, California

3. Nuclear Power Nuclear fission reactions release heat (kinetic energy of products) Heat boils water, powers turbine to generate electricity No greenhouse gas production

4. Fission Chain Reaction Source: Griffith

5. Criticality Reaction self-sustaining if each fission on average induces another Critical mass depends on geometry, moderation, reflection, many other factors

6. Poll Question Which shape of fission fuel will be the most likely to reach criticality? A.A sphere. B.A plate. C.A long, thin cylinder.

7. Fissile Nuclei Required for reactors and bombs Fission started by absorption of thermal neutrons Only fissile nuclei are U-233, U-235, and Pu-239 U-235 is less than 1% of natural uranium (rest is U-238)

8. Plutonium Breeding Source: Griffith

9. Breeder Reactors Transmute U-238 to Pu-239 or Th-232 to U-233 Increase amount of usable fuel

10. Nuclear Waste Source: Savannah River Site

11. Nuclear Fuel Cycle Fission chain reaction produces fission products and neutron capture products Certain fission products absorb neutrons Fuel becomes unusable after ~1% burnup Must be reprocessed or discarded

12. Poll Question The amount of nuclear waste generated would be reduced if A.spent fuel were reprocessed and reused. B.all reactors were shut down. C.reactors with higher “burn-up” were used. D.any of these.

14. Spent Fuel Hazards Source: Cohen, B. L. Rev. Mod. Phys. 1977, 49, 1–20.

15. Reprocessing Recover U, Pu from spent fuel Discard fission product waste Possibility of U, Pu diversion

16. Advanced Reactor Designs Evaporating moderator Melt-proof fuel pellets Higher-burnup design On-site rapid reprocessing Fast neutron fission of non-fissile nuclei Accelerator-based systems

17. Stellar Fusion NASA photograph, Skylab, 10 December 1973

18. Think Question What sort of nucleus releases energy by fusion? A.Nuclei lighter than iron. B.Nuclei about as heavy as iron. C.Nuclei heavier than iron.

19. Fusion in the Sun Source: Seeds, Horizons: Exploring the Universe Net reaction: 4 p +  4 He + 2 e + + 2 + 2 

20. Fusion in Hotter Stars Source: Seeds, Horizons: Exploring the Universe Net reaction: 4 p +  4 He + 2 e + + 2 + 3 

21. Fusion Life of Massive Stars Massive star’s hot core fuses atoms to ever-higher masses Greater nuclear charges require higher temperatures, pressures Less energy per nucleon from fusing massive nuclei Fusion energy exhausted at iron

22. Fusion Death by Supernova Iron core does not produce energy to resist gravitational collapse of star High temperature and pressure in shock wave creates more massive nuclei Some products scattered by explosion All Fe, Cu, W, I, Ag, Au, Pb, U, etc. were released by supernovas!

23. Nuclear Weapons

24. Fission Weapons Grable 15-kT yield artillery shell, Nevada Test Site, 25 May 1953. U.S. Department of Energy photo.

25. Gun Device (“Little Boy”) Source: Griffith

26. Implosion Device (“Fat Man”) Source: Griffith

27. Fusion Weapons Dakota 1.1 MT shot, Enewetak, 25 June 1956. U.S Department of Energy photo.

28. Fusion in Weapons Require high temperatures to bring nuclei together (thermonuclear) Heated by fission bomb “pit” 2 H + 3 H  4 He + n

29. Thermonuclear Device