Metallic nanoparticles in liquids as the target for laser initiationof nuclear reactions

摘要

The review of recent experimental results is presented on the initiation of nuclear reactions under laser exposure of metallic nanoparticles in aqueous solutions of in either Thorium or Uranium salts. It is demonstrated that the rate of nuclear transformations depends on the nanoparticle material (Au or Pd) as well as on the nature of the liquid medium in which they are synthesized by laser ablation (either H-2O or D-2O). Matching the laser wavelength into the plasmon resonance allows observation of large deviations from secular equilibrium of radionuclides in both ~232Th and ~238U branching. Real-time gamma-spectroscopy of the samples under laser exposure shows the presence of short-living isotopes. The post-irradiation decay of the samples activity shows non-trivial behavior. Possible mechanisms of the laser initiation of nuclear transformations are and its possible applications are discussed.