Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A power source for providing electrical energy, comprising: a particle-emitting source radiating particles having kinetic energy;  an ionizable liquid receiving said particles from said particle-emitting source, said ionizable liquid ionizing into ions and electrons when said particles collide with said liquid; and  said ions and electrons are separately collectable; whereby  a current is generated by separate collection of said ions and electrons. 2. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 a cathode, said cathode receiving said ions. 3. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 an anode, said anode receiving said electrons. 4. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said cathode is zirconium. claim 2 5. A power source for providing, electrical energy as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said anode is iridium. claim 3 6. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 a zirconium cathode, said cathode receiving said ions; and  an iridium anode, said anode receiving said electrons. 7. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising: claim 6 said ionizable liquid in communication with said cathode and said anode;  said ions migrating to said cathode and said electrons migrating to said anode. 8. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said particle-emitting source comprises: claim 7 a radioactive element. 9. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said radioactive element comprises: claim 8 an alpha-particle (xcex1-particle) emitting element. 10. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said alpha-particle (xcex1-particle) emitting element comprises: claim 9 curium-244. 11. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said ionizable liquid comprises: claim 7 an element of the periodic table. 12. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said liquid element comprises: claim 7 a semimetal. 13. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said liquid element comprises: claim 12 gallium. 14. A power source for providing electrical energy, comprising: a cathode;  an anode;  a particle-emitting source radiating particles having kinetic energy;  an ionizable liquid in communication with said cathode and said anode and receiving said particles from said particle-emitting source, said ionizable liquid ionizing into ions and electrons when said particles collide with said liquid;  said ions migrating to said cathode and said electrons migrating to said anode; whereby  a current is generated across said cathode and anode. 15. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising: claim 14 said ions and electrons migrating under the influence of an electric field. 16. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said cathode is zirconium. claim 14 17. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said anode is iridium. claim 14 18. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said particle-emitting source comprises: claim 14 a radioactive element. 19. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said radioactive element comprises: claim 18 curium-244. 20. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said ionizable liquid comprises: claim 14 a liquid element of the periodic table. 21. A power source for providing electrical energy as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said liquid element comprises: claim 20 gallium. 22. A power source for providing electrical energy, comprising: an zirconium cathode;  a iridium anode;  a particle-emitting source including curium-244 radiating alpha particles having kinetic energy; and  an ionizable liquid including gallium in communication with said cathode and said anode and receiving said particles from said particle-emitting source, said ionizable liquid ionizing into ions and electrons when said particles collide with said liquid; whereby  said ions migrating to said cathode and said electrons migrating to said anode such that a current is generated across said cathode and anode.