Electronuclear power plants in future nuclear power production

The article outlines several options for achieving the transmutation of long-lived radioactive wastes. A brief description of fast reactors and proton accelerators for this purpose is given. The article then describes several possible uses of electronuclear plants, consisting of a subcritical blanket with an external neutron source comprised of a linear proton accelerator and a neutron-producing target, for transmutation. Transmutation in electronuclear plants without energy consumption, with power production, and with power production as well as the production of new fissioning materials are all outlined. 11 refs.