## Nuclear Material Temperatures - RTG Thoughts

Are there any charts or information on how temperature-hot each nuclear material gets along with it's half-life and the type of radiation it releases (a, b, g)?

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 Admin As a first approximation or in large volume (effectively infinite): One simply needs the decay per unit volume. That provides a heat source $\dot{Q}$. With the heat source, then one simply solves the heat conduction equation. $\dot{Q}$ = E * A, where E is energy per decay, and A is activity. The activity is simply $A = \lambda N$ where $\lambda$ is the decay constant and is defined by $\lambda = \frac{0.69315}{t_\frac{1}{2}}$. N is the atomic density of the radionuclide. 0.69315 is approximately ln(2). This ignores the energy lost from particles, particularly gammas that leave the volume of interest. Alpha particles, on the other hand, travel on the order of 1 mm from parent nucleus, and beta particles travel a few mm or cm depending on energy. ===================== For small finite sources, gamma rays would leave the source and scatter in whatever matter surrounds the source. There is a special code, MCNP or Monte Carlo Neutron Photon, which does special calculations for the problem stated in the initial post.

Recognitions:
 Quote by Arctic Fox Are there any charts or information on how temperature-hot each nuclear material gets along with it's half-life and the type of radiation it releases (a, b, g)? Thought about this from one of the nuclear meltdown threads...
Artic_Fox,

The temperature is not dictated directly by the material.

As Astronuc points out - which material you have will determine a heat
generation rate. You also have to know how the material is being cooled -
and the net "resistance" to heat flow.

The material will get as hot as it needs to so that the outflow of heat will
equal the internal heat generation rate.

Thus if you have the material sitting in air - with relatively poor
heat conduction rate to the air - the material will get hotter than if
you immersed it in water - with relatively better heat transfer
characteristics.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist

## Nuclear Material Temperatures - RTG Thoughts

So, the material will continue to get hotter and hotter with no limit, if there is no means/attempt at cooling?
 Admin No, the system will reach equilibrium, if one puts an appropriate radiator in the system (presuming this is an RTG in space). Without a radiator, the RTG would reach a high temperature, which might cause it to melt and disassemble itself. An RTG system (on a spacecraft) radiates heat to space (there is not conduction or convection in a vacuum), with the heat flux (Q") given by $$Q'' = e \sigma (T_r^4 - T_s^4)$$, where $$e$$= emissivity (= 1 for ideal radiator), $$\sigma$$= Stefan's constant, $$T_r$$= temperature of radiator, and $$T_s$$= temperature of space It is know as "Stefan-Boltzmann Law" - find more at http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...mo/stefan.html The heat rejected is then Q = Q"A where A is the surface area of the radiator. On a large body like a planet, e.g. Earth or Mars, or on a moon, on can use the ground as a heat sink (conduction). On Earth, the atmosphere or water bodies are the heat sink - combination of conduction and forced convection.

Recognitions:
 Quote by Arctic Fox So, the material will continue to get hotter and hotter with no limit, if there is no means/attempt at cooling?
Arctic_Fox,

As Astronuc points out - there is ALWAYS cooling.

In the absence of any type of active or intentional cooling - there is