What is Samarium (nuclear energy)?

Samarium is a lanthanide rare-earth metal. In the context of nuclear reactor operation, one particular isotope, Sm-149, is considered important as a neutron-absorbing "poison". Sm-149 has a high cumulative fission yield of about 1% in uranium-fueled reactors. read more

Samarium is a lanthanide rare-earth metal. In the context of nuclear reactor operation, one particular isotope, Sm-149, is considered important as a neutron-absorbing "poison". Sm-149 has a high cumulative fission yield of about 1% in uranium-fueled reactors. read more

A Samarium atom, for example, requires the following ionization energy to remove the outermost electron. Sm + IE → Sm + + e − IE = 5.6437 eV The ionization energy associated with removal of the first electron is most commonly used. read more

In nuclear industry, especially natural and artificial samarium 149 has an important impact on the operation of a nuclear reactor. Samarium 149 has a very large neutron capture cross-section (about 42,000 barns). Since natural samarium contains about 14% of 149 Sm, it can be used as an absorbing material in control rods. read more