The AMTECH Thermonuclear Converter uses radiation from a nuclear source to heat liquid sodium and generate a potential across a composite ceramic doped with metal ions. This converts radiation from nuclear isotopes into electrical energy that is used to power the world's deep space satellites. The prototype and two successive designs to increase the AMTECH's efficiency where created by Daniel Nase at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in July of 1997. Successive designs were drafted, which recycle the waste radiation that escaped from the first layer of the device. The initial device was only 40% efficient. However, the third device boosted efficiency to 75%. Since there are no moving parts in the AMTECH and the nuclear material has a very long decay rate, the AMTECH is expected to power deep space satellites for more than 600 years.
Reference: NASA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Article Tags: Electricity, Mission, Nuclear, Radiation, Nasa, Convert, Converter, Satellites, Daniel Nase, Amtech, Thermonuclear, Jpl, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pathfinder, Deep Space
