Tritium production from ceramic targets: a summary of the Hanford Coproduct Program

Abstract
Early-generation fusion reactors will require tritium breeding from lithium or lithium compounds. Some current fusion reactor conceptual designs specify ceramic lithium compounds (lithium aluminate, lithium silicate, lithium oxide) for blanket materials. One potential source of information is the technology developed in support of large-scale tritium production programs in fission reactors. Much of that work has been classified. However, recent declassification of documents containing information no longer regarded as sensitive has provided much information of potential value to fusion reactor designers. This report summarizes the tritium production technology developed at Hanford in the mid-1960s under the so-called Coproduct Program. Information of potential value to the fusion community has been extracted from declassified and unclassified reports, summarized, and referenced.