ELFT HÍRADÓ

[Jároli Erika <jaroli.erika AT titkarsag.mta.hu>]

Tisztelt Fizinfo Olvasó!



Az MTA Fizikai Tudományok Osztálya tisztelettel meghívja Önt a szegedi 
ELI-ALPS Kutatóközpont lézerrendszerének felhasználásával induló új 
nemzetközi projektet bemutató előadásokra



Időpont: 2019. november 06. 14:00-16:00 óra között

Helyszín: MTA Székház, Felolvasóterem, 1051 Budapest, Széchenyi István tér 
9.



A program keretében angol nyelvű előadásokat hallgathatnak meg az érdeklődők 
a magyar-francia-amerikai együttműködésben megvalósuló projektről, melynek 
során a szegedi ELI-ALPS kutatóközpont lézerrendszerének felhasználásával 
nukleáris hulladékok könnyebb kezelését szolgáló eljárást kívánnak 
kifejleszteni.



A projekt indításával kapcsolatos információkat az alábbi oldalakon 
találhat:

• 
https://www.kormany.hu/hu/innovacios-es-technologiai-miniszterium/hirek/a-nuklearis-hulladekok-konnyebb-kezeleset-szolgalo-eljarast-dolgoznak-ki-szegeden

• 
https://www.kormany.hu/hu/innovacios-es-technologiai-miniszterium/hirek/palkovics-laszlo-hivatalaban-fogadta-toshiki-tajimat

• 
https://u-szeged.hu/sztehirek/2019-aprilis/szte-vezette-projekt?objectParentFolderId=25254





ELŐADÁSOK:



Toshiki Tajima

Norman Rostoker Professor of Physics and Astronomy

University of California, Irvine

Chief Science Officer, TAE Technologies, Irvine, CA



Novel concept for the transmutation of minor actinides in nuclear waste 
using laser based neutron source



One of the main challenges the world faces in the 21th century is the need 
to drastically reduce emissions of greenhouse gases while at the same time 
offer increased energy access and thereby economic opportunity to billions 
of people. Although a number of low-carbon technologies are available 
without using nuclear technologies the price tag to reach the deep 
decarbonization targets by 2050 is so high that it may seriously endanger 
the realization of those targets. One of the key issues that have to be 
solved to keep nuclear technology a viable option is handling of nuclear 
waste. Even if one assumes that nuclear technology will not be used in the 
future the disposition of the existing waste is one of the most pressing, 
and potentially costly environmental problems for the 21st century. There is 
growing consensus among experts that the optimum strategy to handle nuclear 
waste is to separate (partition) of the various components of spent fuel 
(i.e. uranium, plutonium, minor actinides, fission products etc.) and 
subsequently transmutate the radiotoxic material. The feasibility of the P&T 
strategy has been demonstrated already using neutrons generated by reactors 
or accelerators but the cost of those neutron sources is prohibitive for 
practical purposes. Recent developments in laser acceleration of particles, 
on the other hand, have opened up new vistas to develop laser based neutron 
sources. A novel concept of transmuting the radiotoxic components of nuclear 
waste has been proposed by T. Tajima, A. Necas, G. Mourou, S. Gales, and M. 
Leroy. This transmutation scheme utilizes laser driven acceleration and 
realtime laser monitoring of the transmutation process. The main goal is 
transmutation of long-lived minor actinides into short-lived radioactive 
nuclides or stable nuclides. The transmutator runs in a subcritical regime 
in a liquid phase, transparent solution of dissolved transuranic elements in 
a molten salt eutectic LiF-BeF2, which may be contained in a variety of 
appropriate chambers. Neutrons to initiate the process will be produced in a 
two step process. First, by irradiating a nanometric foil with high-power, 
short (few cycle) laser pulses accelerated deuterium beam is generated using 
the Coherent Acceleration of Ions by Laser (CAIL) scheme. In the second step 
the accelerated deuterium beams are directed into a tritium/deuterium 
saturated target to induce DT or DD fusion which results in the generation 
of 14 MeV neutrons. These neutrons are injected in the molten salt chamber 
to trigger the transmutation process. In addition to the subcritical 
operation a number passive safety features (the negative fuel coefficient, 
passive frozen plugs on the bottom etc.) are offered by the design to result 
in an inherently safe operation.





Gabor Szabo, Professor of Physics

Department of Optics and Quantum Electronics, University of Szeged

Karoly Osvay, Associate Professor, Director

Institute for Applications of High Intensity Lasers in Nuclear Physics, 
University of Szeged



Demonstration and experimental study of high yield generation of fusion 
neutrons with ultrashort laser pulses and their application for 
transmutation of minor actinides



Based on recent developments in laser acceleration of ions, a novel concept 
for the transmutation of radioactive nuclear waste has been suggested by T. 
Tajima, A. Necas, G. Mourou, S. Gales, and M. Leroy. The Hungarian 
government has decided to support this innovative approach as a pilot 
project of national priority, and awarded three and a half billion forints 
funding for three years. The main goal of the project is the demonstration 
and experimental study of high yield generation of fusion neutrons with 
ultrashort laser pulses. Furthermore, advanced aspects of utilization of 
such neutrons for transmutation of transuranic minor actinide (Np, Am, Cm) 
elements in nuclear waste (spent fuel) will be investigated along with 
biomedical and material science applications of the neutron source. The most 
critical parts of the laser-based neutron generation experiments are planned 
to be executed at the ELI-ALPS laser facility in Szeged. The project is 
coordinated by the University of Szeged (USZ). To ensure the successful 
execution of the project a number of national and international 
collaboration partners will be involved. As a first step USZ, Ecole 
Politechnique, and TriAlphaEnergy (Irvine) have signed a Memorandum of 
Understanding to express their mutual intention for collaboration.



Discussion - questions and answers



https://mta.hu/xi-osztaly/novel-concept-for-the-transmutation-of-minor-actinides-in-nuclear-waste-110054



Üdvözlettel: Jároli Erika





Jároli Erika

osztályvezetõ / tERMÉSZETTUDOMÁNYI TITKÁRSÁG

fizikai tudományok osztálya titkára



head of the DEPARTMENT / SECRETARIAT OF NATURAL SCIENCES

secretary of the section of physical sciences



MAGYAR TUDOMÁNYOS AKADÉMIA TITKÁRSÁGA

TESTÜLETI TITKÁRSÁG

SECRETARIAT OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

SECRETARIAT of the Scientific Sections

H-1051 Budapest, Nádor utca 7. (H-1245 Budapest, Pf. 1000) / Phone: +36 1 
411-6313 / Fax: +36 1 411-6122

 <mailto:jaroli.erika AT titkarsag.mta.hu> jaroli.erika AT titkarsag.mta.hu / 
<mailto:fizika AT titkarsag.mta.hu> fizika AT titkarsag.mta.hu