Abstract: An extendable shield apparatus for reducing radiation exposure of medical personnel to be used especially in hospitals is provided that comprises a base capable of being connected to a patient table of an X-ray fluoroscopy bed and a pole connected substantially vertically to the base. A dispenser for X-ray opaque blanket is supported by the pole, and a self-supporting X-ray opaque blanket capable of being extended from the dispenser.

Abstract: A method for producing 229Th includes the steps of providing 226Ra as a target material, and bombarding the target material with alpha particles, helium-3, or neutrons to form 229Th. When neutrons are used, the neutrons preferably include an epithermal neutron flux of at least 1×1013 n s?1·cm?2. 228Ra can also be bombarded with thermal and/or energetic neutrons to result in a neutron capture reaction to form 229Th. Using 230Th as a target material, 229Th can be formed using neutron, gamma ray, proton or deuteron bombardment.

Abstract: Flow of mercury from a liquid-heavy-metal inflow port toward an inner forward end of a container body is rectified by a plurality of incoming-passage guide vanes in a liquid-heavy-metal incoming passage. Flow of the mercury from the forward end of the container body toward a liquid-heavy-metal outflow port is rectified by a plurality of return-passage guide vanes in a liquid-heavy-metal return passage. As a result, occurrence of stagnation and/or recirculation flows of the mercury in the container body is suppressed and a steady and highly uniform stream of the mercury is formed throughout in the container body. The container body is covered with a container outer shell to prevent any leakage of the mercury to outside due to a damage of the container body.

Abstract: A target grid assembly for employment in a target assembly used to produce radioisotopes by bombarding a target material contained in the target assembly with a particle beam. The target assembly includes the target grid assembly, the target window and a target body enclosed in a target housing. The target body defines a target reservoir for receiving the target material and the target window serves to seal the target reservoir. The target grid assembly includes a vacuum window and a target grid. The target grid defines a target grid portion, a helium input and a helium output. The target grid portion defines a plurality of target grid supports which are configured to form a plurality of target grid oblong openings. The vacuum window is supported against the upstream side of the target grid portion and the target window is supported between the downstream side and the target body.

Abstract: Neptunium of minor actinide nuclides separated from spent fuel is added to fuel of reactor cores (inner reactor cores and/or outer reactor cores) of a fast reactor and americium of the separated minor actinide nuclides and rare earth elements are added to either or both of radial and axial blankets of the fast reactor for burning. Thus, the minor actinide nuclides with long half-lives can be burnt with the fast reactor core with the minimized effects of the rare earth elements. For a burner reactor, americium and rare earth elements may be added to shields for burning. Curium may be added together with americium and rare earth elements. Neptunium is added in amount of 2% to 5% by weight based on the weight of the fuel and the rare earth elements are added in an amount of 50% by weight or less based on the weight of the fuel. A Purex process is used to separate neptunium and a Truex process is used to separate americium and curium.

Abstract: A radioisotope production facility (12) produces radioisotopes having application to Positron Emission Tomography. The radioisotopes produced include .sup.18 F, .sup.13 N, .sup.15 O, and .sup.11 C, and are produced by irradiating a selected target material (40) with a high energy .sup.3 He.sup.++ beam accelerated in a radio frequency quadruple (RFQ) linear accelerator (34). The facility includes, in addition to the RFQ linear accelerator and the selected target, a source of .sup.3 He.sup.++ ions (30), low energy transport means (32) for focusing the .sup.3 He.sup.++ beam into the RFQ linear accelerator, and a high energy transport means (36) for directing the accelerated .sup.3 He.sup.++ beam at the selected target. Further included is a target subsystem (16) that holds the target, automatically prepares precursors containing the .sup.18 F, .sup.13 N, .sup.15 O, and .sup.