Demo

Fusion Driven Liquid-phase Transmutator Monitored and Controlled Realtime by CAN Laser T. Tajima1, A. Necas1, G. Mourou2, S. Gales3, and M. Leroy4
1TAE Technologies: 19631 Pauling, Foothill Ranch, CA, 92610
2 Ecole Polytechnique, Route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
3 Institut de Physique Nucléaire d'Orsay, IN2P3/CNRS and University Paris-Sud, 91406 Orsay Cedex, France
4 University of Strasbourg, 4 Rue Blaise Pascal, 67081 Strasbourg, France
Abstract
We introduce a method of transmutation of spent radioactive nuclei in a liquid molten salt
solution with fusion neutrons through a series of energy enhancements from accelerated deuterons via fusion to fission. This method is a part of the partitioning & transmutation (P&T) approach for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel where P&T enables the reduction of duration and volume of the spent nuclear fuel storage. This transmutation scheme utilizes laser driven acceleration (alternatively electrostatic accelerator) and a realtime laser monitoring (laser spectroscopy and laser-driven gamma source) of the transmutation process for purposes of transmutation of long-lived high-level radioactive waste (transuranic and fission products) into short-lived radioactive nuclides or stable nuclides. The transmutator runs in a subcritical operation in a liquid-phased and transparent solution of dissolved transuranic elements (TRU) in a molten salt eutectic LiF-BeF2. Neutrons may be produced in the intimately coupled arrangement: (1) by irradiating a nanometric foil to form deuterium beam using Coherent Acceleration of Ions by Laser (CAIL); (2) accelerated deuterium beams are injected into a timely preionized tritium-saturated target. In addition to the subcritical operation our passive safety measures (the negative fuel coefficient, passive frozen plugs on the bottom etc.) allow for a robustly safe operation. Our transmutator can be a net energy producer. This constitutes as the