Hot cell

Hot cells are used to inspect spent nuclear fuel rods and to work with other items which are high-energy gamma ray emitters.

Hot cells are of nuclear proliferation concern, as they can be used to carry out the chemical steps used to extract plutonium (whether weapons grade or not) from reactor fuel.

Hot cells are commonly used in the nuclear medicines industry: The user must never be subject to shine paths that are emitted from the radioactive isotopes and therefore there generally is heavy shielding around the containment boxes, which can be made out of 316 stainless steel or other materials such as PVC or Corian.

The amount of radioactivity present in the hot cell, the energy of the gamma photons emitted by the radioisotopes, and the number of neutrons that are formed by the material will prescribe how thick the shielding must be.

Also if some actinide materials such as californium or spent nuclear fuel are used within the hot cell then a layer of water or polyethylene may be needed to lower the neutron dose rate.

Lead loaded gloves are often used in conjunction with tongs as they offer better dexterity and can be used in low radiation environments (such as hot cells used in hospital nuclear medicine labs).

Hot cells at the Argonne National Laboratory . Each cell is equipped with a viewing window and two remote manipulators.
Cayce Pentecost , Lyndon B. Johnson , Buford Ellington and Albert Gore Sr operating mechanical hands at a hot cell at Oak Ridge National Laboratory , on October 19, 1958.
Hot cell in a hospital used for the preparation of Technetium-99m for use in single-photon emission computed tomography.
A video look inside the Idaho National Laboratory hot cell.