Nuclear Isomer Energy Storage System

This proposal concerns the use of nuclear isomers as an energy storage system for defense and space applications. Nuclear isomers offer the potential to store energy at densities that are 10^4 times higher per pound ( ~ 10^9 J/g) than chemical systems.Nuclear isomers are long lived ( > 1 ns) excited states of nuclei that release their excess energy by electromagnetic decay. The importance of isomers for energy storage depends both on their availability and on the ability to stimulate the release oftheir stored energy. (Stimulated release of energy from nuclear isomers is also an important condition for the implementation of concepts related to gamma ray lasers. ) One of the most interesting isomers in terms of half-life (T1/2 = 31 y) and energystorage per nucleus ( ~ 2.446 MeV) is 178m2Hf. This proposal examines important aspects of a nuclear isomer energy storage system based on this isomer with particular emphasis on optimization of beam based methods of isomer production, concentration ofisomer, and examination of methods for optimizing the stimulated release of its energy. These and various other aspects related to the application of isomer energy storage systems are the subject of this proposal.If successful, this research project wouldprovide a lightweight energy storage system that has important benefits for increrasing mobility and providing future advanced battle systems that are smaller, lighter and more lethal than existing chemical systems.