Basic Research at GSI for the Transmutation of Nuclear Waste in Accelerator Driven Reactor Systems (ADS)

摘要

The still increasing and developing world population demands more energy. Further burning of coal, oil and gas produces still more CO_2 deteriorating the climate. Anyhow, oil and gas will run out in the middle of the century. Planning a decent future with a minimum supply of energy for those who will fllow us, requires re-examining all possibilities of non-polluting, renewable, and sustainable energies including nuclear options. There are two nuclear reactions which allow for a long-term exploitation: (i) converting H into He by fusion or (II) converting ~(238)U and ~(232)Th into ~(239)Pu and ~(233)Th, as the supplies of ~(235)U, like fossil fuels, are restricted, as well. The remaining ~(235)U and available ~(239)Pu could be burnt in a 3~(rd) generation of reactors (EPR) using mixed U/Pu-fuel (MOX). Aiming at a contribution of fission energy to the world electricity production of one third, that is three times more nuclear power than today, reactors of a 4~(th) generation should be envisaged, ready to wide technological applications in the middle of the century. Such an option could be foreseen as an implement of a peaceful future.