Nuclear Questions

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brimstoneSalad
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Re: Nuclear Questions

Post by brimstoneSalad »

Canastenard wrote: Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:06 pm
brimstoneSalad wrote: Mon Apr 23, 2018 1:25 amWe can probably create more gamma ray emitters in breeder reactors if we really need to.
Beta radiation works for sterilization too, though.
How exactly would breeder reactors be an alternative source of gamma radiation? Maybe they have an abundant by-product that could be used as an abundant source of gamma-decaying atoms that classic nuclear reactors don't produce, and which one(s) precisely?
Any reactor should be able to do it, but we should be using breeders. Not sure where my line of thought was there.
A lot of byproducts have high energy gamma decay. Some are just more useful than others because you need less of it due to a short half-life (but long enough to transport).
Canastenard wrote: Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:06 pmWhat about beta rays instead as you mention?
Beta radiation doesn't require a radioactive source. A simple electron beam is adequate.
Canastenard wrote: Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:06 pmAt least it probably wouldn't be as bad as the chemical pollution produced by fossil fuel burning and doesn't contribute to climate change
Yes, and there's probably a way to capture it. It's a noble gas, but it's also very heavy so it's not likely to leak past containment.
Something to look into.
It's not practical for fossil fuels to capture waste due to the sheer amount.
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