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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Production, Purification and Characterization of Radioisotopes (Final Report)

This collaborative proposal between the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB, PI Suzanne Lapi), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL, collaborator Michael Fassbender) aims to develop novel techniques for isotope production. This proposal takes advantage of complementary techniques available at the UAB cyclotron facility and LANL isotope production facility (IPF) and involved UAB faculty, postdocs, graduate students and undergraduates as well as LANL scientists and staff. This project involved the development of separation techniques for radioisotope production at UAB, using radiotracer analogues produced using the TR24 cyclotron, which would directly translate to separations of the desired isotopes produced at LANL via neutron spallation. Extended visits to LANL by UAB students involved in this initiative were originally envision but were hampered due to COVID restrictions.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Flash Diffusivity Measurement of Semi-Porous Insulation Material Intended for Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators

This research involves the analysis of flash-heating data pursuant to find the thermal diffusivity of a semi-porous insulation material (Min-K) that is being considered for use in a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG). An RTG uses radioactive nuclear fuel to produce electricity through a temperature difference imposed on a bimetallic thermocouple. Insulation is required to protect sensitive equipment from high temperatures and to conserve heat in the fuel. Using flash diffusivity temperature data, various simulations were fitted in order to find the most appropriate heat transfer model for the experiments. Four models were allowed to compete and the standard deviation of the residuals were compared for each model in evaluating model performance. The residuals are simply the difference in temperatures between the measurements and the mathematical models at each measurement point.

McMasters, Robert L.↗
DOE OSTI2021

r-Process Radioisotopes from Near-Earth Supernovae and Kilonovae

The astrophysical sites where r-process elements are synthesized remain mysterious: it is clear that neutron star mergers (kilonovae (KNe)) contribute, and some classes of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) are also possible sources of at least the lighter r-process species. The discovery of 60Fe on the Earth and Moon implies that one or more astrophysical explosions have occurred near the Earth within the last few million years, probably SNe. Intriguingly, 244 Pu has now been detected, mostly overlapping with 60 Fe pulses. However, the 244 Pu flux may extend to before 12 Myr ago, pointing to a different origin. Here, motivated by these observations and difficulties for r-process nucleosynthesis in SN models, we propose that ejecta from a KN enriched the giant molecular cloud that gave rise to the Local Bubble, where the Sun resides. Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements of 244 Pu and searches for other live isotopes could probe the origins of the r-process and the history of the solar neighborhood, including triggers for mass extinctions, e.g., that at the end of the Devonian epoch, motivating the calculations of the abundances of live r-process radioisotopes produced in SNe and KNe that we present here. Given the presence of 244 Pu, other r-process species such as 93 Zr, 107 Pd, 129 I, 135 Cs, 182 Hf, 236 U, 237 Np, and 247 Cm should be present. Their abundances and well-resolved time histories could distinguish between the SN and KN scenarios, and we discuss prospects for their detection in deep-ocean deposits and the lunar regolith. We show that AMS 129 I measurements in Fe–Mn crusts already constrain a possible nearby KN scenario.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Proposed Lunar Measurements of r-Process Radioisotopes to Distinguish the Origin of Deep-sea 244 Pu

Abstract 244 Pu has recently been discovered in deep-sea deposits spanning the past 10 Myr, a period that includes two 60 Fe pulses from nearby supernovae. 244 Pu is among the heaviest r -process products, and we consider whether it was created in supernovae, which is disfavored by nucleosynthesis simulations, or in an earlier kilonova event that seeded the nearby interstellar medium with 244 Pu that was subsequently swept up by the supernova debris. We discuss how these possibilities can be probed by measuring 244 Pu and other r -process radioisotopes such as 129 I and 182 Hf, both in lunar regolith samples returned to Earth by missions such as Chang’e and Artemis, and in deep-sea deposits.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Apparatus for preparing medical radioisotopes

Apparatus for radioisotope production includes housing, a plurality of target disks inside the housing and a curved windows positioned convex inward toward the disks. During operation, coolant flows though the housing across the disks and windows while electron beams passes through the window and the disks. The window temperature increases, rising the fastest in the middle of the window where the electron beam hits the window. A flat window would buckle because the center would deform during thermal expansion against the relatively unaffected periphery, but the curved window shape allows the window to endure high thermal and mechanical stress created by a combination of heating from the electron beam(s) and elevated pressure from coolant on the inside of the window. Such a window may be used for applications in which a pressurized coolant acts on only one side of the window.

Woloshun, Keith A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Target unit with ceramic capsule for producing cu-67 radioisotope

A target unit for producing Cu67 radioisotope is described herein, and comprises a cage body releasably coupled to a screw-on cap; and a ceramic capsule containing a solid Zn68 target ingot and having one open end and one closed end and defining an interior chamber for the target ingot. The ceramic capsule is releasably contained between the cage body and the screw-on cap with a lid disposed on the open end of the capsule and a washer positioned between the lid and the screw-on cap. The screw-on cap and the washer provide a water-tight seal between the lid and the capsule. The interior of the capsule is in intimate physical contact with the target ingot; and the Zn68 of the target ingot is free of traces of residual oxygen that interfere with contact of the Zn68 to the capsule.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2022

System, emanation generator, and process for production of high-purity therapeutic radioisotopes

An isotope production system, emanation generator, and process are disclosed for production of high-purity radioisotopes. In one implementation example, high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes are produced suitable for therapeutic applications. In one embodiment the process includes transporting gaseous radon-220 from a radium-224 bearing generator which provides gas-phase separation of the Rn-220 from the Ra-224 in the generator. Subsequent decay of the captured Rn-220 accumulates high-purity Pb-212 and/or Bi-212 isotopes suitable for direct therapeutic applications. Other high-purity product isotopes may also be prepared.

O'Hara, Matthew J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Method of making an annular radioisotope target having a helical coil-shaped foil ribbon between cladding tubes

An annular radioisotope target and method therefor that includes an inner cladding tube and a helical coil-shaped foil ribbon disposed over the inner cladding tube. The helical coil-shaped foil ribbon has a first end, a second end, a first edge and a second edge. An outer cladding tube is disposed over the helical coil-shaped foil ribbon and inner cladding tube, and end caps are attached to the outer cladding tube and the inner cladding tube.

Ripley, Edward B.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Radioisotope target station

A system for producing and harvesting radioisotopes is provided, the system having a converter housing defining a first beam window; a converter carrier and cartridge in slidable communication with the converter housing; a target housing positioned downstream from the converter housing, the target housing defining a second beam window; and a target carrier in slidable communication with the target housing.

Rotsch, David A.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Production of Radioisotopes of Scandium for Imaging and Therapy (Final Report)

This collaborative proposal aims developed techniques for the production of important medical isotopes of scandium; 43Sc, 44Sc, and 47Sc. By leveraging complementary infrastructure available at the three collaborating instructions, we have achieved a robust supply source for these isotopes.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electromagnetic Radioisotope Separator for Methods Development, Testing, and Training

The major goal of the project is the construction and operation of an electromagnetic isotope separator. Included in that goal is the construction and installation of a high throughput surface ion source, with specific applicability to the Lanthanides. The surface ion source features a single-piece titanium crucible insert that mates with a tantalum hot surface ionizer. The titanium crucible, which does not readily activate, can be loaded with samarium and then irradiated simultaneously, greatly reducing operator dose.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Accelerator-Based Production of Scandium Radioisotopes for Applications in Prostate Cancer: Toward Building a Pipeline for Rapid Development of Novel Theranostics

In the field of nuclear medicine, the β + -emitting 43 Sc and β - -emitting 47 Sc are promising candidates in cancer diagnosis and targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) due to their favorable decay schema and shared pharmacokinetics as a true theranostic pair. Additionally, scandium is a group-3 transition metal (like 177 Lu) and exhibits affinity for DOTA-based chelators, which have been studied in depth, making the barrier to implementation lower for 43/47 Sc than for other proposed true theranostics. Before 43/47 Sc can see widespread pre-clinical evaluation, however, an accessible production methodology must be established and each isotope’s radiolabeling and animal imaging capabilities studied with a widely utilized tracer. As such, a simple means of converting an 18 MeV biomedical cyclotron to support solid targets and produce 43 Sc via the 42 Ca(d,n) 43 Sc reaction has been devised, exhibiting reasonable yields. The Nat Ti(γ,p) 47 Sc reaction is also investigated along with the successful implementation of chemical separation and purification methods for 43/47 Sc. The conjugation of 43/47 Sc with PSMA-617 at specific activities of up to 8.94 MBq/nmol and the subsequent imaging of LNCaP-ENZaR tumor xenografts in mouse models with both 43/47 Sc-PSMA-617 are also presented.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis methods for radioisotope dissolution and mixing for nuclear forensics applications

We report the production of surrogate nuclear explosive debris involves the dissolution of irradiated fissile material, elemental isolation, and recombination based on required fission product ratios. Gamma-ray spectrometry is used following each step to assess the radioactive fission product inventory. A high-purity germanium detector is used to measure each sample, and the detector efficiencies are determined prior to sample measurements. Through radiochemical techniques, elements are isolated and recombined into samples with specific fission product ratios. As a result, a matrix-based approach can account for imperfect chemical separations to calculate the proper mixture volumes to obtain intended volatile-to-refractory fission product ratios, or R-values.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Field deployable trace radioisotope analysis through combined electrochemical and alpha spectroscopy methods

A method for depositing actinides directly onto a 4H-SiC Schottky barrier diode (SBD) detector as a field deployable actinides sensor was developed to enable off-site analysis, shortening the time to obtain critical information such as elements, concentration, and/or isotopic ratio related to the radiological situation. A thin film of Hg was first electrodeposited onto the Pt contact of the SiC diode, followed by chronoamperometric deposition of microgram levels of actinides under conventional control conditions. The 4H-SiC diode maintained consistent functionality through the electrodeposition process and showed resolved alpha-energy spectra that contained accurate isotopic information demonstrating the feasibility of a combined chemical and radiological sensor for field actinide detection and quantification.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2026

Radioisotope dating of nuclear materials using cryogenic decay energy spectrometry

Cryogenic decay energy spectrometry provides high energy resolution and enables absolute decay counting, offering an alternative measurement technique for radiochronometry. A cryogenic decay energy spectrometry experiment was conducted using a magnetic microcalorimeter to determine the age of a plutonium sample. The energy resolution was measured at 0.05% from 5 to 6 MeV. The time since sample purification was determined using the measured concentration ratio of the 241 Am/ 241 Pu radiochronometer. Sample age estimates based on 241 Pu alpha-decay and beta-decay counts, along with 241 Am decay counts, align with the expected sample age within expanded uncertainty (k = 2), supporting the accuracy of cryogenic decay energy spectrometry as a radiochronometric method.

and nuclear chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of natural gamma background radiation on portal monitor radioisotope unmixing

It is well known that national security relies on several layers of protection. One of the most important is the traffic control at borders and ports that exploits Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) to detect and deter potential smuggling attempts. Most portal monitors rely on plastic scintillators to detect gamma rays. Despite their poor energy resolution, their cost effectiveness and the possibility of growing them in large sizes make them the gamma-ray detector of choice in RPMs. Unmixing algorithms applied to organic scintillator spectra can be used to reliably identify the bare and unshielded radionuclides that triggered an alarm, even with fewer than 1000 detected counts and in the presence of two or three nuclides at the same time. In this work, we experimentally studied the robustness of a state-of-the-art unmixing algorithm to different radiation background spectra, due to varying atmospheric conditions, in the 16 °C to 28 °C temperature range. In the presence of background, the algorithm is able to identify the nuclides present in unknown radionuclide mixtures of three nuclides, when at least 1000 counts from the sources are detected. With fewer counts available, we found larger differences of approximately 35.9% between estimated nuclide fractions and actual ones. In these low count rate regimes, the uncertainty associated by our algorithm with the identified fractions could be an additional valuable tool to determine whether the identification is reliable or a longer measurement to increase the signal-to-noise ratio is needed. Moreover, the algorithm identification performances are consistent throughout different data sets, with negligible differences in the presence of background types of different intensity and spectral shape.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2023

Machine Learning technique for isotopic determination of radioisotopes using HPGe γ-ray spectra

γ-ray spectroscopy is a quantitative, non-destructive technique that may be utilized for the identification and quantitative isotopic estimation of radionuclides. Traditional methods of isotopic determination have various challenges that contribute to statistical and systematic uncertainties in the estimated isotopics. Furthermore, these methods typically require numerous pre-processing steps, and have only been rigorously tested in laboratory settings with limited shielding. Here, in this work, we examine the application of a number of machine learning based regression algorithms as alternatives to conventional approaches for analyzing γ-ray spectroscopy data in the Emergency Response arena. This approach not only eliminates many steps in the analysis procedure, and therefore offers potential to reduce this source of systematic uncertainty, but is also shown to offer comparable performance to conventional approaches in the Emergency Response Application.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗