Abstract: A phase change crucible that includes an inner chamber comprising an inner chamber wall extending from an inner chamber floor to an inner chamber upper end, an outer chamber comprising an outer chamber wall extending from an outer chamber floor to an outer chamber upper end, wherein the inner chamber upper end terminates beyond the outer chamber upper end and the outer chamber wall encircles the inner chamber wall, an inner collection region formed by the inner chamber wall and the inner chamber floor, and an outer collection region formed by the outer chamber wall, the inner chamber wall, and the outer chamber floor.

Abstract: A vial for an irradiation target. The vial comprises a body including a cylindrical wall extending along a longitudinal axis, a bottom wall portion at a first end of the body, and an opening at a second end of the body that is opposite the first end. The vial further comprises a cap coupled to the body at the second end, the cap includes an exterior frangible portion and an interior frangible portion.

Abstract: A method for purifying lutetium includes providing a solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium and subliming or distilling ytterbium from the solid composition at a temperature of about 1196° C. to about 3000° C. to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the solid composition.

Abstract: A beam accelerator system comprises an ion accelerator that generates a high-energy ion beam, a low-pressure chamber, an anode adjacent and fluidly connected to the low-pressure chamber, a plasma window adjacent and fluidly connected to the anode, and a cathode housing block adjacent and fluidly connected to the plasma window. The plasma window comprises a plurality of cooling plates, each cooling plate comprising an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in one or more adjacent cooling plate to form a plasma channel. The cathode housing block comprises a cathode target region and a cooling portion. The cooling portion comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a cooling channel fluidly coupling the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and an opening adjacent to the plasma window and aligned with a longitudinal axis of the plasma channel.

Abstract: A waste extraction system that includes a column set positioned between and fluidly coupled to an upstream segment of a main waste pathway and a column effluent tank, the column set having a uranium adsorption column fluidly coupled to a supporting adsorption column along the main waste pathway. The uranium adsorption column is upstream the supporting adsorption column. The waste extraction system also includes a strip waste pathway extending from the uranium adsorption column to the column effluent tank bypassing the supporting adsorption column, an anion exchange resin housed in the uranium adsorption column, and a cation exchange resin housed in the supporting adsorption column.

Abstract: A phase change crucible that includes an inner chamber comprising an inner chamber wall extending from an inner chamber floor to an inner chamber upper end, an outer chamber comprising an outer chamber wall extending from an outer chamber floor to an outer chamber upper end, wherein the inner chamber upper end terminates beyond the outer chamber upper end and the outer chamber wall encircles the inner chamber wall, an inner collection region formed by the inner chamber wall and the inner chamber floor, and an outer collection region formed by the outer chamber wall, the inner chamber wall, and the outer chamber floor.

Abstract: An isotope separation system including a docking station having a power socket port and a cold plate, and a modular crucible loading unit that is removably engageable with the docking station. The modular crucible loading unit includes a heating portion removably engageable with a cooling portion, where the heating portion includes a crucible heater, a busbar electrically coupled to the crucible heater, and a reaction crucible. Further, the cooling portion includes a collection cooling plate and a collection crucible.

Abstract: A split collection crucible assembly that includes a collection crucible and a collection cooling plate comprising a first plate portion removably coupled to a second plate portion, wherein when the first plate portion and the second plate portion are in an engaged position, a crucible slot is formed between the first plate portion and the second plate portion and the collection crucible is positionable in the crucible slot.

Abstract: A reactor that is operable to produce an isotope includes a region for containing a controlled nuclear fission reaction, the region segmented into a plurality of independent compartments, each of the compartments for containing a parent material in an aqueous solution that interacts with neutrons to produce the isotope via a fission reaction. Also provided are methods of producing an isotope using the same.

Abstract: An ion source includes a chamber having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first wall extending from the first end to the second end, and a second wall opposite the first wall. The ion source also includes a source filament at the first end of the chamber and configured to emit electrons and a first amount of heat, a beam aperture at the second wall of the chamber, and one or more heaters positioned within the chamber and between the second end and the beam aperture and operable to provide a second amount of heat. The one or more heaters are positioned and operable such that the second amount of heat balances the first amount of heat to reduce or eliminate a temperature gradient in the chamber.

Abstract: A hybrid nuclear reactor that is operable to produce a medical isotope includes an ion source operable to produce an ion beam from a gas, a target chamber including a target that interacts with the ion beam to produce neutrons, and an activation cell positioned proximate the target chamber and including a parent material that interacts with the neutrons to produce the medical isotope via a fission reaction. An attenuator is positioned proximate the activation cell and selected to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level, a reflector is positioned proximate the target chamber and selected to reflect neutrons toward the activation cell, and a moderator substantially surrounds the activation cell, the attenuator, and the reflector.

Abstract: A method for purifying lutetium includes providing a solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium and subliming or distilling ytterbium from the solid composition at a temperature of about 1196° C. to about 3000° C. to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the solid composition.

Abstract: A sublimation/distillation apparatus including a crucible with an open end, a heating device thermally coupled to the crucible, an actively cooled collection substrate disposed above the open end of the crucible, and a vacuum chamber housing the crucible, the heating device, and the actively cooled collection substrate.

Abstract: A method for generating ions includes providing a filament in a chamber containing gas, applying a first positive voltage to the filament relative to the chamber to heat the filament to a temperature at which thermionic emission occurs and a plurality of thermions are generated, and ionizing the gas to generate positive ions in an ionization region of the chamber.

Abstract: A hybrid nuclear reactor that is operable to produce a medical isotope includes an ion source operable to produce an ion beam from a gas, a target chamber including a target that interacts with the ion beam to produce neutrons, and an activation cell positioned proximate the target chamber and including a parent material that interacts with the neutrons to produce the medical isotope via a fission reaction. An attenuator is positioned proximate the activation cell and selected to maintain the fission reaction at a subcritical level, a reflector is positioned proximate the target chamber and selected to reflect neutrons toward the activation cell, and a moderator substantially surrounds the activation cell, the attenuator, and the reflector.

Abstract: A system includes an ion source configured to generate ions having a first polarity, one or more extraction electrodes configured to extract the ions from the ion source as an ion beam having an extraction energy, a mass resolving slit or aperture configured to select a desired isotope from the ion beam such that a desired isotopic ion beam passes through the mass resolving slit or aperture, a target positioned relative to the mass resolving slit or aperture so that the desired isotopic ion beam is incident on the target, and a voltage source coupled to the target and configured to hold the target at a first voltage having the first polarity. The first voltage causes a reduction of the extraction energy as the desired isotopic ion beam approaches the target to minimize sputtering and maximize collection of the ions on the target to reconstitute an ionized material.

Abstract: A method for purifying lutetium that includes sublimating or distilling ytterbium from a solid composition comprising ytterbium and lutetium in an environment at a temperature in a range of from 400° C. to 2000° C. for a sublimation/distillation period to leave a lutetium composition comprising a higher weight percentage of lutetium than was present in the solid composition, wherein the environment comprises water vapor, and the water vapor is present in the environment at a partial pressure of 1.5 torr or less during the sublimation/distillation period.

Abstract: A phase change system comprising a reduction assembly, a cold sublimation assembly, and a hot sublimation assembly. The reduction assembly comprises a reduction crucible, a first modular crucible, and a reduction control nozzle and, when assembled, the reduction control nozzle is positioned between an open end of the reduction crucible and an open end of the first modular crucible and a protruding outlet of the reduction control nozzle extends into an activity chamber of the first modular crucible. The cold sublimation assembly comprises a collection crucible and a cold sublimation control nozzle and, when assembled, the cold sublimation control nozzle extends into an activity chamber of the collection crucible. In addition, the hot sublimation assembly comprises a hot sublimation crucible and a second modular crucible and, when assembled, the hot sublimation crucible is fluidly coupled to the second modular crucible.

Abstract: A nuclear reaction generator includes a chamber configured to contain a gas and including a target. The nuclear reaction generator also includes a filament provided inside the chamber and a voltage source configured to apply a first positive voltage to the filament relative to the chamber. The first positive voltage is configured to heat the filament to a temperature at which thermionic emission occurs and a plurality of thermions are generated, and the plurality of thermions is configured to ionize the gas to generate positive ions in the chamber. The target is configured such that nuclear reactions occur when the positive ions interact with the target.

Abstract: A beam accelerator system operable to produce a medical isotope, including an ion accelerator that generates a high-energy ion beam; a low-pressure chamber; an anode adjacent and fluidly connected to the low-pressure chamber; a plasma window adjacent and fluidly connected to the anode; and a cathode housing adjacent and fluidly connected to the plasma window. The plasma window has a plurality of plates, each plate having an aperture that is aligned with an aperture in one or more adjacent plate to form a plasma channel. One or more plate in the plurality of plates includes a unitary plate having an aperture therein, and one or more cooling channels entering the unitary plate at a first side of the unitary plate and exiting the unitary plate at a second side of the unitary plate. The one or more cooling channels run through a thickness of the unitary plate.