Quote:
Originally Posted by avandonk
There is a fuller report in Nature and New Scientist. Once you get a couple of kg of U235 in the one place you have a problem!
bert
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Bert,
Do you have the New Scientist reference?
I have a couple of questions.
(1) Where does the initial neutron (pre fission) source come from?
U235 emits alpha particles. The alpha particles cannot overcome the columbic barrier of U235 nuclei nor any of nuclei of the uranium hexafluoride solvents to produce pre fission neutrons.
(2) How does neutron energy moderation occur?
None of the uranium hexafluoride solvents are recognized neutron moderators. So even if it was possible to generate neutrons, if the neutrons are not thermal, radiative capture may occur where gamma radiation is emitted from the U235 nucleus instead of nuclear fission.
It seems likely the workers would have succumbed to alpha radiation rather than any nuclear reaction.
Regards
Steven