Alpha indirect conversion radioisotope power source.
Advantages of radioisotope-powered electric generators include long service life, wide temperature range operation and high-energy density. We report development of a long-life generator based on indirect conversion of alpha decay energy. Prototyping used 300 mCi Pu-238 alpha emitter and AlGaAs photovoltaic cells designed for low light intensity conditions. The alpha emitter, phosphor screens, and voltaic arrays were assembled into a power source with the following characteristics: Isc=14 microA; Uoc=2.3 V; power output -21 microW. Using this prototype we have powered an eight-digit electronic calculator and wrist watch.
Sychov
Maxim
M
TRACE Photonics Inc., 1680 West Polk, Charleston, IL 61920, USA. msychov@yahoo.com
Kavetsky
Alexandr
A
Yakubova
Galina
G
Walter
Gabriel
G
Yousaf
Shahid
S
Lin
Qian
Q
Chan
Doris
D
Socarras
Heather
H
Bower
Kenneth
K