Proposal for a Homemade Fusion Reactor

Anything less may result in regret should a low-yield nuclear attack occur. With rules established to control of nuclear materials, like enriched uranium, it would appear on the surface all is safe. However, smuggling and theft of enriched uranium exist. According to Sokova, Potter, and Chuen (2007), trafficking of enriched uranium in Georgia has occurred multiple times. It is probable more smuggling and theft has occurred unknowingly. Sensors exist and work when knowing where the uranium is located but shielding the material is another possibility. According to (Richardt, Hülseweh, Sabath, and Niemeyer, 2013, Chapter 9), all radiation types can be shielded. Alpha is shielded by paper, Beta is shield by plastic, Gamma-Xrays are shielded by lead, and Neutron is shielded by concrete (Fig. 9.2). In (The ABC News Nuclear Smuggling Experiment, 2003), 15 pounds of depleted uranium metal were smuggled into the Unites States (para. 1). Although it was only depleted uranium, natural or weapon grade uranium can be

The estimated rates of exposure, stated previously, is important for estimating short and long term effects on the exposed populations. Especially the exposed children, because they are at higher risk for future radiation exposure effects, as explained by the Law of Bergonie and Tribondeau. The exposed children need to be monitored because they will most likely require treatment, as they get older due to their sensitive thyroid

Gamma radiation can only be stopped by thick materials, concrete and lead (BBC, 2014). This type of radiation is mostly used in the medical setting, treating cancer, and used in the sterilization of equipment used in medical settings (BBC, 2014). Radiation used in sterilization of equipment can pass through plastic, rubber, and kill bacteria and viruses (BBC, 2014). Tracers are either eaten or injected. They show where the tracer has built up in body, indicating abnormal areas, possibly cancer or tumors (BBC, 2014). This leaves medical workers being at risk for exposure to these rays, which can lead to genetic mutations long-term. Lead aprons and barrier walls would be the best route to mitigate these types of rays, since they cannot be avoided by these workers.

Fusion comes from the combining of two or more atoms into a larger atom while releasing huge amounts of energy.

Nuclear Fusion occurs when two small nuclei fuse to form a larger nucleus (this is not to be confused with fission). A large amount of energy is released, which can be explained simply enough by the binding energy per nucleon. The nucleons in extremely small nuclei have more energy than those in slightly larger nuclei. Because these nucleons have more energy, they have less binding energy per nucleon (because the same total binding energy must be split evenly, therefore more energy=less binding energy to go around). Because of this, when the reaction of two smaller nuclei fusing takes place, the nucleons must have to lose energy. The subsequent energy that they lose is the energy that is released. For all of this to happen, a fusion reaction requires utterly immense temperature of millions of degrees celcius, just in order to force the nuclei to move fast enough to fuse and stick.

Strong harmful doses of radiation are used when performing medical treatments or procedures such as CT scans or X-rays. CT scans play a major role

[1] This type of radiation would be dangerous for astronauts, and it would need to be shielded against for long distance space travel to be viable. SPE are the ejection of very energetic protons, alpha particles and heavier particles into space; these include solar flares and coronal mass ejections. [1] Under normal conditions, astronauts would not be concerned about this, but occasionally, very large SPEs occur that can produce radiation with energy levels high enough to be lethal in a very short period of time. In fact, between Apollo missions 16 and 17, one of the largest SPEs ever recorded occurred, and it produced radiation with energy levels that would be lethal to astronauts outside the atmosphere in under 10 hours. [1]

Firstly, high thermal energies are needed to achieve controlled fusion. High temperature enable the particles to overcome the Coulomb barrier, the energy barrier due to electrostatic interaction that two nuclei need to overcome so they can get close enough to undergo a nuclear reaction. This energy barrier of the electrostatic potential energy is that temperature must be maintained for a sufficient confinement time and with a sufficient ion density in order to obtain a net yield of energy from a fusion reaction. A necessary part in nuclear fusion is plasma, which is a mixture of atomic nuclei and electrons that are required to initiate a self-sustaining reaction which requires a temperature of more than 40,000,000 K.

In a nuclear reactor of a nuclear power plant, the fission process is contained within the zirconium or magnesium cladding that surrounds the fuel rods. The fuel rods are "spent" after the fission takes place. They are highly radioactive and give off dangerous gamma radiation, which is similar to X-ray and can therefore penetrate through a human body. It is necessary to shield the spent fuel rods with water and thick lead walls (Bertell, 1985). These fuel rods and their contents, are essentially what comprises nuclear waste and is what needs to be kept secure for hundreds of thousands of years.

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to analyze how different shielding materials and different distances would affect the propagation of ionizing radiation, and further analyze the possible effects of the shielding on yearly dosages and safety precautions. It was determined that…

This paper goes over radiation safety precautions and all the health risk dealing with radiation. I will discuss the discovery of radiation, non-iodizing and iodizing radiation, natural exposure to radiation, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma radiation and how they affect us. Also the paper will be going over radiation from human activities: underground miners, radiologists, medical

Many people fear radiation but do not fully understand what it is and how it affects us. So we’re going to investigate the amount of

Nuclear energy comes in two forms: Nuclear fission and Nuclear fusion. Nuclear Fission is when a heavier (in weight) nucleus splits into lighter nuclei with smaller mass numbers. Nuclear Fusion is a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei come close enough to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles. The forms of energy that are given off during a Nuclear Reaction is Kinetic Energy. It comes from the neutrons during Nuclear Fusion. Both of these uses of energy production have many advantages and disadvantages.

Fusion is the same process our sun and stars in general use to produce energy. Nuclear fusion reactors are theoretical concepts trying to achieve controlled nuclear fusion reactions here on earth, primarily with the goal of generating electricity. Nuclear fusion promises to be a much more ecofriendly and safer alternative energy source compared to: fossil fuels, natural gases, and conventional nuclear power.

Nuclear energy, is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as energy released during nuclear fusion, or fission, especially when used to generate electricity. The two ways nuclear energy is produced are fusion, and fission. Fusion, creates energy by combining particles to form new atoms. This process, seen in stars, has by-products of hydrogen, gold and other elements. Fission on the other hand is the splitting of atom into smaller particles, which in turn releases energy. Fission does however, leaves behind radioactive trace elements. In a current nuclear power plant, atoms are split apart via fission. The heat energy released from the reaction is harnessed to heat water to which in turn is used to power turbines which create electricity. The first use for nuclear fission was not to produce power, but rather to annihilate countries.