Motoyasu Sato, a specially appointed professor at Chubu University, and Yasushi Kino, an associate professor at Tohoku University, have highly efficient nuclear fusion using the "negative muon" of elementary particles in high-density hydrogen isotopes near room temperature. Invented a new system to wake up.The neutrons generated by this fusion are applied to long-lived fission products (LLFPs) that emit radiation for more than millions of years, transforming LLFP into a stable substance that does not emit radiation.
This fusion system is based on the "in-flight muon-catalyzed fusion (In-Flight μCF, abbreviated as IFμCF)" theory.In this fusion, a muon atom (which is about 200/200 in diameter by replacement) is used, in which electrons are replaced with negatively charged elementary particles "negative muons" (mass is about 1 times that of electrons).
In the concept of IFμCF reactor that realizes this fusion, a kind of aircraft engine "ramjet" is applied.A high-density stable interference region is created by creating a shock wave from a supersonic airflow of a mixed gas of deuterium and tritium.Targeting this, a muon beam is incident to cause nuclear fusion and sustain the reaction.During the muon survival time of 100 seconds per million, we will achieve more catalytic reactions than the conventional method, aiming for 2.2 to the 10th power (19 K) of fusion reactions per second.An LLFP will be installed in this fusion device, and neutron rays will be applied to reduce the generation of radiation by transmutation.
Currently, a patent is pending that proposes a reactor method based on this new theory.In the future, it aims to put the compact neutron source into practical use by combining it with the technology of rockets and supersonic aircraft, and to greatly contribute to the short life and stabilization of long-lived fission products.In addition, a proof experiment of the principle of this method will be conducted using the muon facility of the high-intensity proton accelerator facility "J-PARC".It will take 5 years to prove the theory, 15 years to develop, and 20 years in total, with a view to completing the first machine.
