Nuclear binding-energy difference → Useful heat

Matrix context

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

D.20 × C.39 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Radioluminescentfamily: RadioluminescentD.20 × C.20 · Nuclear binding-energy difference × Photothermalfamily: Photothermal

Typed bounds on this route

Every limit the atlas holds for this route, as constraint records: reached through bounded_by claims on the route's own entities. Hard bounds (an upper bound or a formula) decide the thermodynamic-bound check above; benchmarks, constitutive relations and resource limits are listed and never decisive. No prose limit exists anywhere (pass 42).

• Landsberg limit · formula-bound · hard, filtered out by its applicability
  η ≤ 1 − (4/3)(T_c/T_s) + (1/3)(T_c/T_s)⁴ for conversion of blackbody radiation at T_s with a sink at T_c; 93.3 % at 6000 K / 300 K

Steps

1. 01
   Nuclear binding-energy difference —drives→ Radioactive decayestablishedclaim record

   nuclear → nuclear

   radioisotope required

   refs [1]
2. 02
   Radioactive decay —produces→ Beta particlesestablishedclaim record

   nuclear → nuclear

   • beta emitters such as tritium, Ni-63, Pm-147, Sr-90

   refs [1]
3. 03
   Beta particles —drives→ Radioluminescenceestablishedclaim record

   nuclear → radiative · loss to thermal

   • a phosphor or scintillator (ZnS:Cu, plastic scintillator) excited by beta particles; tritium and Ni-63 sources are the usual choice for lifetime and shielding

   solid · radioisotope required

   refs [2] [1]
4. 04
   Radioluminescence —produces→ Photonsestablishedclaim record

   radiative → radiative

   refs [2]
5. 05
   Photons —drives→ Photothermal absorptionestablishedclaim record

   radiative → thermal

   refs [3]
6. 06
   Photothermal absorption —produces→ Heat flowestablishedclaim record

   thermal → thermal

   refs [3]
7. 07
   Heat flow —converts into→ Useful heatestablishedclaim record

   thermal → thermal

   • heat delivered at a temperature above the point of use

   refs [3]

Evidence for the complete composition · 0

No source on record for this exact composition. The sources below support the individual steps, not the route as a whole.

Evidence for the constituent relations · 3

1. [1]
   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
2. [2]
   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
3. [3]
   A. Bejan. Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics (4th ed.) (2016)

   Wiley · doi:10.1002/9781119245964 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record