The Theory of Isotope Separation as Applied to the Large Scale Production of U235 - Couverture souple

Cohen, Karl

 
9784871877060: The Theory of Isotope Separation as Applied to the Large Scale Production of U235
Couverture souple
ISBN 10 : 487187706X ISBN 13 : 9784871877060
Editeur : Ishi Press, 2015

Synopsis

Isotope separation is the process of concentrating specific isotopes of a chemical element by removing other isotopes. The use of the nuclides produced is various. The largest variety is used in research (e.g. in chemistry where atoms of "marker" nuclide are used to figure out reaction mechanisms). By tonnage, separating natural uranium into enriched uranium and depleted uranium is the largest application. In the following text, mainly the uranium enrichment is considered. This process is a crucial one in the manufacture of uranium fuel for nuclear power stations, and is also required for the creation of uranium based nuclear weapons. Plutonium-based weapons use plutonium produced in a nuclear reactor, which must be operated in such a way as to produce plutonium already of suitable isotopic mix or grade. While different chemical elements can be purified through chemical processes, isotopes of the same element have nearly identical chemical properties, which makes this type of separation impractical, except for separation of deuterium. There are three types of isotope separation techniques: Those based directly on the atomic weight of the isotope. Those based on the small differences in chemical reaction rates produced by different atomic weights. Those based on properties not directly connected to atomic weight, such as nuclear resonances. The third type of separation is still experimental; practical separation techniques all depend in some way on the atomic mass. It is therefore generally easier to separate isotopes with a larger relative mass difference. For example deuterium has twice the mass of ordinary (light) hydrogen and it is generally easier to purify it than to separate uranium-235 from the more common uranium-238. On the other extreme, separation of fissile plutonium-239 from the common impurity plutonium-240, while desirable in that it would allow the creation of gun-type nuclear weapons from plutonium, is generally agreed to be impractical.

Les informations fournies dans la section « Synopsis » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Présentation de l'éditeur

Isotope separation is the process of concentrating specific isotopes of a chemical element by removing other isotopes. The use of the nuclides produced is various. The largest variety is used in research (e.g. in chemistry where atoms of "marker" nuclide are used to figure out reaction mechanisms). By tonnage, separating natural uranium into enriched uranium and depleted uranium is the largest application. In the following text, mainly the uranium enrichment is considered. This process is a crucial one in the manufacture of uranium fuel for nuclear power stations, and is also required for the creation of uranium based nuclear weapons. Plutonium-based weapons use plutonium produced in a nuclear reactor, which must be operated in such a way as to produce plutonium already of suitable isotopic mix or grade. While different chemical elements can be purified through chemical processes, isotopes of the same element have nearly identical chemical properties, which makes this type of separation impractical, except for separation of deuterium. There are three types of isotope separation techniques: Those based directly on the atomic weight of the isotope. Those based on the small differences in chemical reaction rates produced by different atomic weights. Those based on properties not directly connected to atomic weight, such as nuclear resonances. The third type of separation is still experimental; practical separation techniques all depend in some way on the atomic mass. It is therefore generally easier to separate isotopes with a larger relative mass difference. For example deuterium has twice the mass of ordinary (light) hydrogen and it is generally easier to purify it than to separate uranium-235 from the more common uranium-238. On the other extreme, separation of fissile plutonium-239 from the common impurity plutonium-240, while desirable in that it would allow the creation of gun-type nuclear weapons from plutonium, is generally agreed to be impractical.

Biographie de l'auteur

Dr. Karl Paley Cohen was a physicist and advisor involving nuclear energy and reactor development who began his career making scientific advances in uranium production with the Manhattan Project at Columbia University in the 1940s. Working under Harold Urey, Cohen developed the now universal method of centrifugal isotope separation for enriching uranium. While the collection includes many declassified lab notebooks and journals from this time, it largely covers Cohen’s long period of service with General Electric as well as various consultancies, and includes reports, correspondence, notes, and other material related to nuclear electric power generation and its safety, economic viability, public policy and other concerns. George Moseley Murphy was the author of books on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. He was born in 1905 and died in 1968.

Les informations fournies dans la section « A propos du livre » peuvent faire référence à une autre édition de ce titre.

Éditeur
Ishi Press
Date d'édition
2015
Langue
anglais
ISBN 10 
487187706X
ISBN 13 
9784871877060
Reliure
Broché
Nombre de pages
184
Éditeur
Murphy George M
Coordonnées du fabricant
non disponible
Personne responsable
non disponible