Abstract
Abstract
The concept of a hybrid mini-reactor capable of operating in the mode of a nuclear fission reactor (on fast neurons), in the mode of a radionuclide source and simultaneously in both modes is considered. It is proposed to use the most long-lived isotopes of the 114th, 126th, and possibly 120th elements as fuel for such a mini-reactor. Such nuclides have not yet been obtained in laboratories around the world. The neutron effective cross sections and macroscopic cross sections for the nuclei of super-heavy elements are estimated. A simple and effective mathematical model of the neutron-physical calculation of a mini-reactor with fuel based on super-heavy nuclei is proposed. The model is based on the one-group diffusion approximation. The uncertainties of the cross sections are so great that the use of more accurate and high-precision calculation models can hardly be justified. The results of neutron-physical calculations of a mini-reactor with fuel based on the longest-lived isotopes of the 114th and 126th elements are presented. The critical mass of a ball (without a reflector) made from 114Fl will be 1.492 kg; the critical radius will be less than 2.48 cm. (For element 342126 1.474 kg and less than 2.33 cm respectively.)