Alpha particles · Physical Transformation Atlas

Relations

drives · 3

Alpha particles—drives→Alphavoltaic effectestablished

alpha particles stopped within tens of micrometres of a semiconductor junction; displacement damage degrades output far faster than for beta sources

Alpha particles—drives→Radioisotope heatingestablished

alpha particles stopped within the source pellet and its cladding (the RTG case)

Alpha particles—drives→Radioluminescenceestablished

produces · 1

Radioactive decay—produces→Alpha particlesestablished

alpha emitters such as Pu-238, Am-241, Po-210

Enumerated routes through this · 22

Radioisotope thermoelectric generator7/7 est · demonstrated
Radioisotope heater unit7/7 est · demonstrated
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Light4/4 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Alphavoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work5/5 est · candidate
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Light6/6 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Alkali-metal thermal-to-electric conversion → Ionic current → Electrical work5/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Ionic thermoelectric effect → Ionic current → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Marangoni effect → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermal shape-memory effect → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermochemical redox cycle → Chemical fuel (H₂, CO, syngas) → Chemical fuel7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermopolarization effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/7 est · weakly supported
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermopolarization effect → Separated surface charge → Electrical work5/7 est · weakly supported
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermionic emission → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermogalvanic effect → Ionic current → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Thermally regenerative electrochemical cycle → Ionic current → Electrical work5/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Nernst effect → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Anomalous Nernst effect → Charge carriers → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Working-fluid expansion (heat-engine cycle) → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Ocean thermal energy conversion → Mechanical motion → Mechanical work5/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioisotope heating → Temperature gradient → Advective heat transport → Heat flow → Useful heat7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway
Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Photons → Photothermal absorption → Heat flow → Useful heat7/7 est · extends a recorded pathway

Cited sources · 3

[1]
M. G. Spencer, T. Alam. High power direct energy conversion by nuclear batteries (2019)
Applied Physics Reviews 6, 031305 · doi:10.1063/1.5123163 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record
[2]
M. A. Prelas, et al.. A review of nuclear batteries (2014)
Progress in Nuclear Energy 75, 117–148 · doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.04.007 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
[3]
A. Iwan, W. Pellowski, K. A. Bogdanowicz. Conversion of Radiophotoluminescence Irradiation into Electricity in Photovoltaic Cells. A Review of Theoretical Considerations and Practical Solutions (2021)
Energies 14, 6186 · doi:10.3390/en14196186 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-20 · record

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