New Transmutation Method by Using Moving Target

The transmutation of fission products by resonance capture is shown to be possible by using a moving concept target. Instead of controlling the neutron energy to irradiate the nuclei, the nuclei to be transmuted are accelerated toward a neutron thermal field. The transmutation rate of ⁹⁹Tc is then reduced from 2.1 10⁵ years to 14 hours. Possible experimental devices to realize this moving target and the required confinement time are described and studied briefly. They include a device using microparticles of fission products, as well as a concept derived from magnetic fusion. Both are compared with a different concept issued from inertial fusion.