Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A Thorium fuel rod comprising:a fuel element containing solid Thorium, the fuel element having a length and defining a central bore extending along at least a majority of the length; andan inner core element positioning within the central bore defined by the fuel element, the inner core having a length that extends along at least 75% of the length of the fuel element, the inner core defining an interior cavity, the interior cavity defining a void space, wherein the void space of the interior cavity is subject to a vacuum; andan end cap sealed to the inner core element in such a manner that the vacuum within the void space is maintained, the end cap being formed of a material capable of passing particles through the end cap such that the particles can impinge upon an nucleus forming the inner core, wherein the particles are of a sufficient energy that impingement of a particle upon an nucleus forming the inner core can induce a (p, n) reaction resulting in the emission of a neutron having an energy level of 0.7 MeV or greater. 2. The Thorium fuel rod of claim 1 wherein the fuel element comprises Thorium Dioxide and an outer cladding. 3. The Thorium fuel rod of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the fuel element defines a plurality of fins. 4. The Thorium fuel rod of claim 3 wherein the fins are spiral shaped. 5. The Thorium fuel rod of claim 1 wherein the inner core element comprises Beryllium. 6. The Thorium fuel rod of claim 1 wherein the inner core element is formed such that a portion of the void space within a first radial cross-section of the inner core element is eclipsed by a portion of the inner core within a second radial cross-section of the inner core element wherein the first and second radial cross-sections are taken at different locations along the axial direction of the Thorium fuel rod. 7. The Thorium fuel rod of claim 1 wherein the inner core element is configured such that the void space within a first radial cross-section of the inner core element is aligned with the void space within a second radial cross-section of the inner core element wherein the first and second radial cross-sections are taken at different locations along the axial direction of the Thorium fuel rod.