Nuclear Reactions Lithium. Chain reaction.
Lithium (Li) is the lightest metal there. When an alkali is very reactive, reacts with O and N and explosively with water. In nature there are two isotopes: Li-7 (abundance: 92.41%) and Li-6 (abundance: 7.59%).
Some nuclear reactions that produce the lithium are very curious, I highlight 2: Neutron activation
:
Lithium has nothing to do when it absorbs a neutron compared to many other elements. Here are the neutron reactions of the 2 isotopes:
Li-6 + n -> T + He-4 + 4.86 MeV
Li-7 + n -> T + He-4 + n - 2.5 MeV
As we can see the fissioning Lithium producian He-3 and tritium. Tritium is radioactive, and like the He-3 is Fusion. That
reaction Li-7 absorbs energy that comes from the neutron. That is, the neutron has to be fast, of 2.5 MeV.
In Canvi in \u200b\u200bthe Li-6 is a thermal neutron fission than it, and releases energy. Which does not release a neutron is what makes it so interesting for nuclear fusion reactors. Fusion
Li-7 + a:
When the Li-7 is fused with an alpha particle from a nucleus of polonium or americium, for example, this happens:
Li-7 + a -> p @ 17 MeV
This fusion releases a proton to 17 MeV, which is used to produce proton activations in light elements.
Chain Reaction:
there a way to produce a chain reaction using these properties.
need: Lithium
70% enriched Li-6
-beryllium-polonium-210
-Deuterium gas or heavy water (recommended but not required) Any
-thin coating
The first is to form a alloy between lithium and beryllium. As we know, at first the best way in which to mold the fuel for a chain reaction is the ball. In this case it is the same, but not so fast: it is not making a solid metal sphere. The
First, make a small area of \u200b\u200b2 cm in diameter of pure beryllium.
Then we make another field of pure lithium (as I said 70% of LI6). This area shall measure 3.5 cm in diameter, being 0.6 cm thick. The sphere of beryllium
should go into the latter battery. In the space gap must introduce deuterium gas at about 3-5 atm., Which can be obtained from the electrolysis of heavy water.
Once formed this area, it must move to form the upper dial. This should measure 15 cm in diameter, while respecting that inside there must be a gap of 3 cm in diameter to accommodate the area before created.
This area of \u200b\u200b15 cm is made with a 30% to 70% Be Lithium enriquecido.Es this great area convenient to divide into 16 parts.
Once all the parties going to the coating;
supposed to be coated with a thin layer of Po-210 all these pieces of field, but it can not do so because nuclear reactions begin soon. It should coat each piece with some fine, low melting point not to miss the alpha particles at the time of the explosion. To this can be used, for example, a 800 micron layer of bismuth, but can really use even organic compounds, that is at your choice.
on this protective layer is about we will place another thin layer of Po-210.
In the area of \u200b\u200b3 cm in diameter can also put another thin layer of Po-210, provided there is another protective layer between the two.
Now assemble all the pieces, ensuring the field in a sphere of U (if enriched, better) to be so good together. Uranium just 0.8 mm thick.
It's all done. Now supposedly put the ball in a large block of high-order explosive, initiated by 4 points opposite cones using primers in the detonators to blast convex back and concentrate in the area.
Exploiting increase the temperature, pressure and therefore density.
The deuterium gas
will merge, creating great heat and a stream of neutrons. Beryllium is responsible
to moderate to cause fission of Li-6, which will produce fissile material.
Polonium come into contact with the Li-Be alloys. Alpha particles come into contact with beryllium, generating neutrons generate more tritium.
also come in contact with lithium, which generates protons that cause the merger LI6 (p, He3) He4. This merger is very energetic, and produce He3 to be merged.
At the same time it releases all this amount of energy, it passes both the neutron:
1-Many are absorbed by the Po-210, resulting in Po-211, which immediately decays by emitting an alpha particle, accelerating a lot of reaction, releasing a huge amount of energy.
2-Like many of this are high-energy neutrons, being held back by beryllium at this time has a very high density, its energy is converted to heat shock lighter neutron-atom (Be) releasing even more energy . To make matters worse, when a neutron arrives at the 2.6 MeV and crashed into the Be-9, this issue one more neutron, thus doubling the neutron emission. And to finish to complete the chain reaction, when issuing this neutron Ectra becomes Be8, with an average life of 0.84 ms paricular decays to two alpha.
These alpha particles if they collide with an atom of Li7 ... back again: deliver a proton of 17 MeV, which result in a fusion energy in the Li-6.
If you think energy released yet little, do not worry that there is more: think that once they are thermal neutron, causing a LI6 fission energy, which produces easily fusible material.
And here ends the reaction, and of course could be improved: the blocks of the area is better than on the outside containing a higher proportion of Li7, and inside a compound LI6 better enabling The gas produced is stored in one place for better fuíon, ie a porous lithium compound. What's more, you just have to do a bit of coconut.
Salu2!
