Spiral phase-2

The technique originally proposed for Spiral-II is the use of energetic neutrons to induce fission of depleted uranium. The neutrons are generated by the break-up of deuterons in a thick target, the so-called converter. The energetic forward-going neutrons impinge on a thick production target of fissionable material. The resulting fission products accumulate in the target, diffuse to the surface from which they evaporate, are ionized, mass-selected and finally post-accelerated. The following aspects of the project have been reviewed: -) the neutron production, -) the converter and target systems, -) the deuteron energy, -) the power load on target, -) ionization and post-acceleration, -) the deuteron driver accelerator and -) safety considerations. 3 more proposals have been explored: a deuteron cyclotron, a deuteron linac and photofission solutions