A NOVEL LEAK DETECTOR FOR XENON

WE DESCRIBE A NOVEL LEAK DETECTOR FOR XENON THAT HAS DIRECT APPLICATION TO TESTING RADIO-ISOTOPE-POWERED THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS. SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION OF OUR INNOVATION WILL ALLOW IMPROVED EFFICIENCY IN THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS BY REMOVING THE HELIUM THAT IS NOW ADDED TO THE XENON BUFFERGAS FOR LEAK CHECKING PURPOSES. THE PHASE I RESEARCH PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE THE CRITICAL DESIGN INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTING A PROTOTYPE LEAK DETECTOR IN PHASE II. WE ANTICIPATE THAT A WORKING INSTRUMENT WILL HAVEMOST OF THE DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE HELIUM LEAK DETECTORS: PORTABILITY, RUGGEDNESS, SENSITIVITY AND EASE OF USE. THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE LEAK DETECTOR WILL HAVE WIDESPREAD USE AS AN ADAPTABLE, SENSITIVE AND SELECTIVE ANALYZER FOR A VARIETY OF GASES.