The role of the accelerator in energy: (Recent development of an accelerator-drive systems (ADS))

Abstract

I describe the recent development of an accelerator-driven reactor for producing energy, and for transmuting minor actinides and long-lived fission products. To run these reactors in a slightly subcritical condition rather than at deep criticality, the proton accelerator can be a low-powered cyclotron which requires only a small building and site; hence, the cost of generating electricity by this system becomes inexpensive. To get a higher beam current for a circular accelerator, a fixed field alternating gradient (FFAG) synchrotron can be used for driving the subcritical reactor without jeopardizing the reduction of the shock wave created by manipulating the pulsed-mode operation. The induction FFAG is discussed. To reduce the energy costs of transmuting long-lived fission products (LLFPs) such as Tc-99, and I-129, I reconsider the old concept of depositing of them into outer space by not rocket but by an ions thruster.