5 ms·
Pu 238 doesn’t undergo spontaneous fission. It’s an alpha emitter.
by monochromatic 9y ago
Pu 238 doesn’t undergo spontaneous fission. It’s an alpha emitter.
- taneq 9y agoHow do you emit alpha particles without a nuclear process?
- monochromatic 9y agoIt’s a nuclear reaction. It just isn’t fission.
- acidburnNSA 9y agoRight. Pu238 alpha decay is aneutronic so it doesn't contribute to a chain reaction. However heating from too much Pu238 (or more importantly, Pu240) would be a heat removal/thermal challenge.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- caf 9y agoQuite so, I was actually thinking of Pu-240. One heavier rather than one lighter! (like Pu-238, Pu-240 is an alpha emitter. But unlike Pu-238, Pu-240 also undergoes spontaneous fission).