Patent Number: 050769715
Section: claims

1. A method for enhancing alpha decay in radioactive materials comprising: placing a mass of radioactive material in a space;  applying a negative electrostatic potential to said space containing said mass of radioactive material; and  maintaining said electrostatic potential thereby increasing the radioactive decay of said radioactive material wherein the electrostatic potential is in the range of 50 kilovolts to 500 kilovolts. 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said radioactive material includes at least one material in the uranium 235 decay chain. 3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said radioactive material includes at least one material in the uranium 238 decay chain. 4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said radioactive material includes at least one material in the plutonium 239 decay chain. 5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the electrostatic potential is maintained at least 30 minutes.