Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

Fusion; MCNP; Muon; Nuclear

Abstract

"An analysis of the energy economy of a theoretical muon-catalyzed nuclear fusion system has been made by invoking the use of point kinetic equations, Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations, and from a review of existing literature on muon-catalyzed fusion. An external X-ray reactivation source is proposed as a novel way to increase the number of fusions per muon and thereby overcome the so-called alpha sticking problem that has long been considered the primary impediment to breakeven muon-catalyzed fusion power. Free electron lasers, synchrotrons and Wakefield accelerators are discussed as possible bright X-ray photon sources. The addition of an intense external reactivation source into a deuterium-tritium medium can greatly increase the fusion rate per muon. However, energy breakeven analysis shows that the energy density of a power producing system would need to reach unrealistically high levels in order to maintain the energy cost of the external reactivation source. Thus, external reactivation is not a practical approach to muon-catalyzed fusion"--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Graham, Joseph T.

Committee Member(s)

Liu, Xin (Mining & Nuclear Engr)
Alajo, Ayodeji Babatunde

Department(s)

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Degree Name

M.S. in Nuclear Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2020

Pagination

viii, 61 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographic references (pages 58-60).

Rights

© 2020 Nishant Raghav Pillai, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11688

Electronic OCLC #

1164095945

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