* It's a subcritical (K_eff = 0.99) neutron multiplier using 1.5 kg highly-enriched (93%) uranium. K_eff = 0.99 means each fission event triggers a cascade of ~100 more fission events before the activity ceases. In a critical reactor (K_eff = 1) the chain reaction doesn't stop, it perpetuates itself
* The primary neutron source is californium-252, a radioactive isotope which emits neutrons when it decays (by spontaneous fission)
* Highly-enriched uranium is the neutron multiplier (operating as a subcritical reactor). For each neutron in, you get ~100 fissions and ~240 fission neutrons, of which <140 are excess (not absorbed by the uranium itself)
* Runs at about 6 watts => 4 * 10^11 neutrons/second created
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120511/NEWS01/...
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/assets/pdf/A2189208511.p...
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/assets/pdf/A2189207511.p...
some stuff:
* It's a subcritical (K_eff = 0.99) neutron multiplier using 1.5 kg highly-enriched (93%) uranium. K_eff = 0.99 means each fission event triggers a cascade of ~100 more fission events before the activity ceases. In a critical reactor (K_eff = 1) the chain reaction doesn't stop, it perpetuates itself
* The primary neutron source is californium-252, a radioactive isotope which emits neutrons when it decays (by spontaneous fission)
* Highly-enriched uranium is the neutron multiplier (operating as a subcritical reactor). For each neutron in, you get ~100 fissions and ~240 fission neutrons, of which <140 are excess (not absorbed by the uranium itself)
* Runs at about 6 watts => 4 * 10^11 neutrons/second created
* 0.33 Curies of spent "fuel" remain