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Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Christmas Night
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the houseNo electrons were flowing through even my mouse.
All devices were plugged in by the chimney with careWith the hope that St. Nikola Tesla would share.
David L. Hanson, Stephen A. Slutz, Roger A. Vesey, Michael E. Cuneo
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 49 | Number 3 | April 2006 | Pages 500-516
Technical Paper | Fast Ignition | doi.org/10.13182/FST06-A1163
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Fast ignition fusion targets require a uniform cryogenic D-T fuel layer for efficient fuel assembly. Uniform beta layering of solid D-T fuel within a fast ignition capsule will be complicated by the presence of a reentrant cone for short-pulse laser access. We discuss an alternative approach to cryogenic fast ignition targets currently being developed at Sandia National Laboratories in which a liquid cryogenic fuel layer is condensed from a low-pressure external gas supply and confined between concentric plastic shells. This concentric-shell cryogenic liquid fuel target concept is particularly well adapted to a hemispherical capsule configuration for single-sided X-ray drive. Liquid cryogenic D-T targets have a number of potential advantages, including greatly reduced system cost, temperature control, fill time, and cryogenic handling requirements, compared to beta-layered D-T targets. The shape and surface quality of the liquid fuel layer is determined entirely by the bounding shells, opening the possibility for simplified fast ignition fusion energy targets. Technology issues for target fabrication are discussed, and radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of liquid fuel capsule performance are presented.