Small Photon Battery

The performance and endurance of military electronic equipment depends on the implementation of advanced scientific and engineering technology. Lightweight and inexpensive power supplies with long life would be especially valuable. A useable life greater than four years, independence from solar flux,continuous current, and a materials cost less than $100/Watt-year are advantages offered by photon batteries which can be developed on the foundation of advanced solar voltaic and radiation detection technologies. The purpose of this proposal is to present a project work plan for construction and testing of a photon battery using tritium as the sealed radioactive source. Low current electronic devices are increasingly important in military and civilian life, yet electrochemical battery technology has not progressed in a manner commensurate with the electronics because of the inherent electrochemical limitation that chemical reagents are quickly exhausted under load. Small, modular, power supplies will be developed for military electronics that provide continuous current for over four years on the basis of this research. BENEFITS:Successful completion of this applied research project could result in reduced military use of chemical batteries, greatly enhanced performance of electronic devices, all at lower cost and lower weight.