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Theresa L Benyo

Publications and source records attributed to Theresa L Benyo.

14 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2024

Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) Technology Utilized By Astral Systems Ltd

Utilizing the principles outlined in the two Physical Review C papers published in 2020 by the LCF research team at GRC, Astral Systems Ltd., has been able to boost d-D fusion neutron output by at least 50 times compared to a commercially available neutron generator predecessor. Astral Systems Ltd., reports that 99 percent of the fusion reactions are produced by LCF within their Electrostatic Confinement plasma-based fusion in a single device.

lattice confinement fusion↗
NASA NTRS2023

Accessing Icy Worlds Using Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) Fast Fission

Exploring the oceans of icy moons and planets requires a robust robotic probe powered by an energy source that can operate under icy world ocean conditions and be self-contained. We propose a non-fissile, compact, scalable nuclear energy source to electrically power untethered, autonomous probes to melt or bore through icy world crusts. The probe can be used for planetary (i.e. Pluto, lunar (i.e., Europa), or asteroid exploration (i.e. Ceres) where ice caps are encountered. This new approach may yield a variable output fission power source with a higher performance than 238Pu and a non-fissile alternative to a highly enriched uranium (HEU) core. This approach saves uranium enrichment expense, and both HEU and 238Pu security and launch safety costs. The reactor will produce electrical power with thermal waste heat to melt through the ice crust with possible sonic assistance. This NIAC funded proposal and presentation will introduce the hybrid fusion-fission reactor concept applied to the Saturnian moon, Enceladus, explore the potential for and benefits of this new type of nuclear reactor, and discuss applying this new technology.

Icy Worlds↗
NASA NTRS2020

NASA GRC Hosts Lattice Confinement Fusion Virtual Workshop

For several years (since 2014) the Advanced Energy Conversion (AEC) Project has examined novel nuclear reactions in materials that absorb large quantities of deuterium fuel tightly held in a lattice. These experiments culminated in a bremsstrahlung irradiation campaign that repeatedly induced nuclear reactions in deuterated metals.

Theresa L Benyo↗
NASA NTRS2020

Novel Nuclear Reactions Observed in Bremsstrahlung-Irradiated Deuterated Metals

d-D nuclear fusion events were observed in an electronscreened, deuterated metal lattice by reacting cold deuterons with hot deuterons (d*) produced by elastically scattered neutrons originating from bremsstrahlung photodissociation (where “d” and “D” denote 2H). Exposure of deuterated materials (ErD3 and TiD2) to photon energies in the range of 2.5 to 2.9 MeV resulted in photodissociation neutrons that were below 400 keV and also the 2.45-MeV neutrons, consistent with 2H(d, n)3He fusion. Additionally, neutron energies of approximately 4 and 5 MeV for TiD2 and ErD3 were measured, consistent with either boosted neutrons from kinetically heated deuterons or Oppenheimer-Phillips stripping reactions in the highly screened environment. Neutron spectroscopy was conducted using calibrated lead shielded liquid (EJ-309) and plastic (stilbene) scintillator detectors. The data support the theoretical analysis in a companion paper, predicting fusion reactions and subsequent reactions in the highly screened environment.

Bruce M Steinetz↗
NASA NTRS2020

Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Deuterated Metals

Nuclear fusion reactions of D-D are examined in an environment comprised of high density cold fuel embedded in metal lattices in which a small fuel portion is activated by hot neutrons. Such an environment provides for enhanced screening of the Coulomb barrier due to conduction and shell electrons of the metal lattice, or by plasma induced by ionizing radiation (γ quanta). We show that neutrons are far more efficient than energetic charged particles, such as light particles (e−, e+) or heavy particles (p, d, α) in transferring kinetic energy to fuel nuclei (D) to initiate fusion processes. It is well-known that screening increases the probability of tunneling through the Coulomb barrier. Electron screening also significantly increases the probability of large- versus small-angle Coulomb scattering of the reacting nuclei to enable subsequent nuclear reactions via tunneling. This probability is incorporated into the astrophysical factor S(E). Aspects of screening effects to enable calculation of nuclear reaction rates are also evaluated, including Coulomb scattering and localized heating of the cold fuel, primary D-D reactions, and subsequent reactions with both the fuel and the lattice nuclei. The effect of screening for enhancement of the total nuclear reaction rate is a function of multiple parameters including fuel temperature and the relative scattering probability between the fuel and lattice metal nuclei. Screening also significantly increases the probability of interaction between hot fuel and lattice nuclei increasing the likelilhood of Oppenheimer-Phillips processes opening a potential route to reaction multiplication. We demonstrate that the screened Coulomb potential of the target ion is determined by the nonlinear Vlasov potential and not by the Debye potential. In general, the effect of screening becomes important at low kinetic energy of the projectile. We examine the range of applicability of both the analytical and asymptotic expressions for the well-known electron screening lattice potential energy Ue, which is valid only for E >> Ue (E is the energy in the center of mass reference frame). We demonstrate that for E ≤ Ue, a direct calculation of Gamow factor for screened Coulomb potential is required to avoid unreasonably high values of the enhancement factor f (E) by the analytical—and more so by the asymptotic—formulas.

Vladimir Pines↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Accessing Icy World Oceans using Lattice Confinement Fusion Fast Fission

Exploring the oceans of icy moons and planets requires a robust robotic probe powered by an energy source that can operate under icy world ocean conditions and be self-contained. We propose a non-fissile, compact, scalable nuclear energy source to electrically power untethered, autonomous probes to melt or bore through icy world crusts. The probe can be used for planetary (i.e. Pluto, lunar (i.e., Europa), or asteroid exploration (i.e. Ceres) where ice caps are encountered. This new approach may yield a variable output fission power source with a higher performance than 238Pu and a non-fissile alternative to a highly enriched uranium (HEU) core. This approach saves uranium enrichment expense, and both HEU and 238Pu security and launch safety costs. The reactor will produce electrical power with thermal waste heat to melt through the ice crust with possible sonic assistance. This paper will introduce the hybrid fusion-fission reactor concept, explore the potential for and benefits of this new type of nuclear reactor, and discuss the technical approach to developing this new technology.

Theresa L Benyo↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Accessing Icy Worlds using Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) Fast Fission

NASA proposed the Ocean Worlds Exploration Program to search for extraterrestrial life. The challenge is that up to 40 kilometer-thick ice must first be broken through to reach sub-surface oceans. These icy ocean worlds include Ceres, Europa, Enceladus, and Pluto. Each world may have a liquid water ocean beneath their ice crust. These oceans are likely heated by the parent planet’s tidal forces, or in the case of Pluto or Ceres, by residual radioactive decay. A robotic probe exploring the oceans beneath must either melt or bore through the ice crust first. Consequently, the proposed probe needs to contend with hydrostatic ice pressure, ice phase and density changes, then water pressure. Such a mission requires a small, but robust and long lived, electrical energy and heat source. Instead, we propose a novel, compact, scalable nuclear energy source using neither highly enriched uranium (HEU) nor 238Pu similar to the hybrid fusion-fission generator described by Forsley and Mosier-Boss. This nuclear energy source uses Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) neutrons to fast-fission thorium or depleted uranium where neither 232Th nor 238U isotopes are fissile

Theresa L Benyo↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NIAC-23 Project: Accessing Icy Worlds Using Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) Fast Fission

Icy World Exploration - Proposed probe capable of powering the probe and a drilling mechanism with enough Watt-electric and Watt thermal to accomplish its mission - Heated and/or (ultra) sonic drilling mechanism will enable the probe to travel through icy crusts - LCF-driven Fast Fission can provide Nuclear Electric Propulsion for shorter journey - Ceres, Europa, Enceladus and Pluto are icy world candidates

icy worlds↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Lattice Confinement Fusion-Fast-Fission

Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) • Published 2020, Physical Review C 1,2 • Patented and Commercialized 2024, Astral Systems • LCF in compact neutron generator 50x increase in neutron flux, 99% from LCF • Produce medical radioisotopes • LCF Fast-Fission Hybrid Reaction • No Enriched Uranium • Demonstrated with US Navy and GEC • Modeling and Scaling under NIAC and NSF funding • Application • Deep space • Power: Icy worlds • Propulsion: Nuclear Electric Propulsion • Planetary Surface Power: Lunar and Mars • Terrestrial • DoD Operational Energy • Onsite power for Data Centers

nuclear electric propulsion↗