Triggered Isomer Reactions (TIR) A controllable nuclear power source

1. Triggered Isomer Reactions(TIR)A controllable nuclear power source Emanuel Perez, Drew Gaskell, Tom Billeter Physics 4D ~ SRJC Spring 2004

2. Introduction • A Gamma decay of an Excited Isomer • Not a fission or fusion reaction, the process involves excitation energies • Still obeys Einstein’s Equation, E=mc2 • Produces significantly less harmful radiation than fission or fusion reactions • Possible to control reaction for potential power source

3. Recent Developments • Radioisotope Decay accompanies many nuclear reactions, since the nuclei are left in an excited state. • In 1998, at the University of Texas a team led by Dr. Carl Collins triggered significantly increased energy decay in a hafnium isomer sample using a dental x-ray machine (Collins et al, 1999). • The x-rays excited the hafnium isomer, yielding a cascade of g-rays and x-rays at varying energy levels, without the need for a nuclear fusion or fission reaction. • Emitted x-rays can be reflected to sustain and control the reaction

4. Diagram

5. Current Research and Development • Air Force is developing an UAV utilizing a Triggered Isomer Reactor and Heat Exchanges, coupled to a turbine engine. • The Superheated air is injected directly into the turbine engines combustion section • The heat exchanger absorbs the gamma rays and heats the air passing through it. At altitude, the turbine will switch from conventional operation, to NUCLEAR POWER.

6. TIR Mechanism • Radioisotope decay is the process of gamma emissions from an excited nucleus. • Similar in theory to a LASER, because they both involve stimulated emission from an excited state atom. • Nucleus will lower its energy state by emitting g-rays (gamma rays).

7. Hafnium-178m • The Hafnium isomer used is in the metastable state (t1/2=31yrs). • Bombarding with low energy x-rays (10-90 keV) excites the atom to an even higher energy that can decay to the ground state releasing a high energy gamma ray the text calls this an isometric transition. This is like throwing a snowball to bring down an avalanche. • Because only certain transitions are allowed between electron subshells in an atom a quantized x-ray is required to elevate the e- and quantized gamma rays are released. For this reason the reactor is sometimes called a quantum nucleonic reactor.

8. Modern Applications of TIR • Highly maneuverable fighter/attack aircraft • Long range cargo and passenger planes • Long endurance platforms • Very long range cruise missiles • Enhanced rocket propulsion • Generators • Turbine engines

9. The OppositionIncluding Lawrence Livermore Lab • Do not believe the X-ray intensities are valid • No increase was found in the decay of Hf-178 • Gamma Ray Laser application is plausible Rebuttal: “Failures that are unfamiliar with this field and did not know the correct x-ray energy levels to trigger Hf-178 nor did they use monochromatic X-rays”

10. FAQ • Who discovered it? • When did research begin? • Has there been any development yet? • Are there any applications in use today? • Where is research being conducted? • Who is paying for the funding?

11. Are there any more Questions?

12. Works Cited • Thornton, Stephen T., and Andrew Rex. Modern Physics: for scientists and engineers. Fort Worth: Saunders College Publishing, 2000. • Wilson, Jim. “Atomic Wings: A new mini-reactor revives the dream of a nuclear-powered aircraft.” Popular Mechanics May 2004: 98-103. • “Triggered Isomer Reactions.” 13 pages. On-line. Internet. 4 May 2004. • Available <http://www.nuclear.com/index-Other.html> • Silberberg, Martin S. Chemistry: The molecular nature of matter and change. 3rd Ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2003.