High-brightness γ-Ray Generation for Nuclear Transmutation

Abstract

In this article, a generation of high-brightness γ-ray sources and application of these sources to transmutation of nuclear waste are discussed. Recent developments in laser and optical technology allow us to store photons in a cavity. Interaction of an electron beam with stored photons results in an enhancement of the γ ray generation. Such γ-ray sources are expected to have high efficiency. We have studied a conceptual design of an integral system for nuclear waste transmutation of both long-lived fission products (FP) and transuranic (TRU) waste and discuss the energy balance in this system. We performed a small-scale experiment with a low-energy electron beam and stored photons in a supercavity. These results were in good correspondence with the predictions based on the cavity storage rate and electron beam energy. Experiments for preliminary nuclear transmutation are under way on 1.5 GeV new SUBARU electron storage ring at the University of Hyogo.