Abstract: Fluorine extraction systems and associated processes are described herein. In one embodiment, a fluorine extraction process can include loading a mixture containing a uranium fluoride (UxFy, where x and y are integers) and an oxidizing agent into a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel has a closed bottom section and an opening spaced apart from the bottom section. The fluorine extraction process can also include heating the mixture containing uranium fluoride and the oxidizing agent in the reaction vessel, forming at least one uranium dioxide and a non-radioactive gas product from the heated mixture, and controlling a depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel to achieve a desired reaction yield of the non-radioactive gas product.

Abstract: Fluorine extraction systems and associated processes are described herein. In one embodiment, a fluorine extraction process can include loading a mixture containing a uranium fluoride (UxFy, where x and y are integers) and an oxidizing agent into a reaction vessel. The reaction vessel has a closed bottom section and an opening spaced apart from the bottom section. The fluorine extraction process can also include heating the mixture containing uranium fluoride and the oxidizing agent in the reaction vessel, forming at least one uranium dioxide and a non-radioactive gas product from the heated mixture, and controlling a depth of the mixture in the reaction vessel to achieve a desired reaction yield of the non-radioactive gas product.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrohalocarbon and/or halocarbon compounds with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4)) are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing halogenated hydrocarbon compounds with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrofluorocarbon with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing halocarbon with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing chlorofluorocarbon with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrohalocarbon and/or halocarbon compounds with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4)) are disclosed herein.

Abstract: An 18F isotope-labeled FDG radiopharmaceutical is stabilized against degradation in radiochemical purity due to radiolysis using selected amounts of ethyl alcohol that depend on the activity concentration of the 18F with due regard to limits set by various pharmacopoeia standards. Any of the well-know production methods for the FDG may be used and the ethyl alcohol added at several stages, preferably as part of the standard hydrolysis step. This particular radiopharmaceutical is used extensively in diagnostic imaging with a Positron Emission Tomography technique.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing the 18F isotope from water enriched with the 18O isotope using high energy protons from a cyclotron. The apparatus has a cyclotron target cavity that is connected to a fluid loop that contains a water reservoir, pump, and pressure regulator. Water is continuously recirculated through the target cavity to increase reliability. After irradiation long enough to produce a desired amount of 18F, water in the target loop is diverted through an 18F extraction device before being returned to the target loop. The returning water may also be purified and additional water added to the target loop as needed to permit continuous irradiation and production of 18F.

Abstract: A thin vacuum valve for particle accelerator beam lines comprising of a frame, a slide, a shaft, a first clamp, and preferably a second clamp, which is easily constructed from highly electrically conductive material and presents substantially smooth, flat surfaces towards adjacent particle accelerator component. The frame has first and second surfaces respectively facing toward the two adjacent particle accelerator system components, the first surface including a slide slot. A frame orifice extends through the frame between the first and second surfaces, preferably at the slide slot, and is positioned and sized on the frame to permit passage of a particle beam generated by the particle accelerator system along a beam line The slide is housed substantially within the slide slot and is movable between a first position and a second position along a slide axis. In the first position, the slide permits a particle beam to pass through the slide orifice and through the frame orifice along the beam line.

Abstract: A drift tube linear accelerator (DTL) incorporating an improved drift tube design, wherein the DTL comprises a resonance chamber maintaining a vacuum and having an inlet port and an exit port, an RF field source producing an oscillating radio frequency field within the chamber, and a plurality of substantially cylindrical drift tubes comprising a hollow body having a low energy end and a high energy end and housing a magnet, a low energy end cap attached to the low energy end of the hollow body and a high energy end cap attached to the high energy end of the hollow body, and a stem extending from said hollow body to an inner surface of the resonance chamber.

Abstract: A system for providing a single pulse of laser oscillator radiation of broad spectral range operative to excite a plurality of modes of a ring laser operating as an injection locked oscillator. In order to provide injection locking of the ring oscillator at multiple modes, a pump laser for the laser oscillator has its cavity length substantially similar to that of the laser oscillator thereby producing partial mode locking of the laser oscillator by amplitude modulation of the pump laser. In this manner the laser oscillator provides a single pulse of mode rich frequencies which are chosen within the band desired in the ring laser. This pulse continuously circulates within the cavity of the laser oscillator. The output of the laser oscillator through an output mirror thus forms a series of pulses separated in time by the roundtrip delay of the laser oscillator cavity. A single such pulse is selected by Pockels cell gating for injection into the ring oscillator.

Abstract: A vaporizer and extractor apparatus for a laser isotope separation process is arranged as an assemblage of modular components in which equipment subject to maintenance is replaceable via vacuum casks while the apparatus is operational or briefly shut down without loss of vacuum. A vacuum transfer cask is provided for modular extractor substrate assemblies. The substrate assemblies are nestable and are mounted on extensible probes which permit them to be nested in the vacuum transfer cask for transport. During use the substrates extend from the cask, through a vacuum lock and are placed side by side in the vacuum chamber. A vacuum transfer cask is also provided for the vaporizer assembly which is mounted on an extensible arm which in turn positions the assembly in the chamber or retraces the vaporizer assembly from the chamber into the transfer cask, rotating it during the process in order to permit it to fit into the cask.

Abstract: A vaporizer and extractor apparatus for a laser isotope separation process is arranged as an assemblage of modular components in which equipment subject to maintenance is replaceable via vacuum casks while the apparatus is operational or briefly shut down without loss of vacuum. A vacuum transfer cask is provided for modular extractor substrate assemblies. The substrate assemblies are nestable and are mounted on extensible probes which permit them to be nested in the vacuum transfer cask for transport. During use the substrates extend from the cask, through a vacuum lock and are placed side by side in the vacuum chamber. A vacuum transfer cask is also provided for the vaporizer assembly which is mounted on an extensible arm which in turn positions the assembly in the chamber or retraces the vaporizer assembly from the chamber into the transfer cask, rotating it during the process in order to permit it to fit into the cask.

Abstract: Flow of liquid fuel to a vaporization tube of a heating device is controlled by a vertically adjustable float valve, with the vertical height of a surface level of the fuel in a float valve chamber being set to correspond to a desired operating level of the liquid fuel in the vaporization tube. Liquid fuel is permitted to free-flow from the float valve chamber to the lower end of the vertical vaporization tube without metering, the rate of flow and the level of the fuel in the vaporization tube being determined solely by the hydraulic head created by the surface level of the fuel in the float valve chamber. Raising of the float valve chamber produces a corresponding raising of the level of the fuel in the vaporization tube to increase the tube inner surface area which is contacted or wetted by the fuel in the tube, thus causing an increase in the rate of vaporization and a corresponding increase in heat output of the heating device.

Abstract: In an isotope separation system in which hot, isotopically separated vapor is deposited on enriched product and depleted tails plates, deposit adherence is improved and plate cooling simplified. The tails plate is liquid-cooled to a lower temperature which permits the product plate to be radiatively cooled by it simplifying product plate cooling and lowering its temperature to reduce the tendency for the product plate deposit to separate during temperature cycling. In one embodiment plate surfaces are cleaned of impurities in a vacuum by allowing the temperature of the tails plates to reach the relatively low operating temperature prior to proceeding with the deposition. In another embodiment plate surfaces are provided with rough surfaces to promote air penetration during deposit stripping, which permits the formation of a brittle, more easily severed bond between plate and deposit.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exciting particles in an environment in which a selected isotope, of broadened spectral absorption bandwidth, is exposed to laser radiation having a frequency bandwidth substantially narrower than the spectral width. The laser radiation is frequency swept entirely across the broadened spectral width of the absorption band of the selected isotope type particles to provide spectral matching with substantially all of these particles. A laser system is provided having the capability of sweeping a narrow spectral emission entirely across a broadened spectral absorption band.

Abstract: In an electron beam evaporation system utilizing a grid to control electron flow, non-uniformities in vapor density caused by periodic trapping of electrons near the filament due to the magnetic field produced by alternating heater current are substantially reduced either (1) by out-of-phase grid modulation which increases electron flow from the filament at times when the alternating magnetic field operates to trap electrons, (2) by using a high frequency a.c. source for heating the filament thereby to smooth out the effects of the a.c.-produced magnetic field, or (3) by using an auxiliary cathode heated by the bombardment of electrons from a filament spaced from the cathode by a distance which removes the cathode from the magnetic field produced by the a.c. heating of the filament. In one emobodiment, demodulation of vapor density is employed in laser isotope separation to provide a temporally uniform atomic uranium vapor.

Abstract: A flashlamp system is described which permits the use of flashlamp tubes of increased diameter for higher average power capability while retaining the desirable characteristics of a small diameter, wall stabilized tube which includes small image size, short pulse duration and high ionization level. A series of low level pre-pulses are applied to the flashlamp prior to a main pulse to form a low density region along the flashlamp discharge axis for the main pulse for generating radially directed acoustic waves, thereby to confine the main discharge to a small low density region near the tube center. When Xenon flashlamps are used, this results in a higher ionization level of the molecules along the axis of the flashlamp which increases the ratio of the short-lived XeII emission to long-lived continuum, thereby effectively reducing pulse duration.