The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 03, 2012
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2004
Carlo Rubbia, Genève, CH;
Carlo Rubbia, Genève, CH;
European Organization for Nuclear Research, Geneva, CH;
Abstract
A material is exposed to a neutron flux by distributing it in a neutron-diffusing medium surrounding a neutron source. The diffusing medium is transparent to neutrons and so arranged that neutron scattering substantially enhances the neutron flux to which the material is exposed. Such enhanced neutron exposure may be used to produce useful radio-isotopes, in particular for medical applications, from the transmutation of readily-available isotopes included in the exposed material. It may also be used to efficiently transmute long-lived radioactive wastes, such as those recovered from spent nuclear fuel. The use of heavy elements, such as lead and/or bismuth, as the diffusing medium is particularly of interest, since it results in a slowly decreasing scan through the neutron energy spectrum, thereby permitting very efficient resonant neutron capture in the exposed material.