Helium 3

HELIUM-3, POLARIZED HELIUM-3 AND NEUTRON SPIN FILTERS

Helium 3 Facts

Helium-3 (He-3) is a light, non-radioactive isotope of helium with two protons and one neutron.

It has an atomic mass of 3.0160293 amu.

It is highly used in the cryogenic industry as well as Neutron Detection Instrumentation.

Helium 3 Production

Helium 3 is made by the beta decay of tritium 1T  →  2He1+  +  e−  +  νe

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted.

One way Tritium is produced is by neutron activation of the Lithium-6 ion.

The half life of Tritium is about 12.33 years.

Helium 3 Applications

Helium 3 is devoted to security purposes, because the gas is extremely sensitive to neutrons, like those emitted spontaneously by plutonium.

Helium 3 is also used in the Cryogenics fields, since it can reach temperatures of about 0.3 to 0.2 Kelvin.

Helium 3 Controversy (I)

The growth of Helium 3 have been slowed since the production of Tritium was ceased in the late part of the 1980’s.

Currently the production of Helium 3 is about 8,000 liters per year.

It is expected that the US will need about 76,000 liters by 2010.

Helium 3 Controversy (II)

Russia have supplied Helium-3 to the USA from 2006-2008 at a rate of about 25,000 liters per year.

Many industry experts consider the shortage of Helium-3 a disaster, since it helps on the detection of illegal smuggling of radioactive materials.

Helium 3 Future

The Obama administration have resume making bomb-grade tritium at one civilian nuclear plant.

Obama's 2010 budget includes funds for the Tennessee Valley Authority to expand tritium-production to a second nuclear plant.

For the time being, it will be really difficult to obtain this valuable and rare gas.

Works Cited

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-04/helium-3-shortage-hits-scientific-research-and-nuclear-security

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/04/helium-3-shortage-could-mean-nuke-detection-disaster/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium-3