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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
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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Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
ARPA-E announces $40 million to develop transmutation technologies for UNF
The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) announced $40 million in funding to develop cutting-edge technologies to enable the transmutation of used nuclear fuel into less-radioactive substances. According to ARPA-E, the new initiative addresses one of the agency’s core goals as outlined by Congress: to provide transformative solutions to improve the management, cleanup, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
A. W. Molvik, R. W. Moir, D. D. Ryutov, T. C. Simonen
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 61 | Number 1 | January 2012 | Pages 70-76
Fusion | Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST12-A13399
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Axisymmetric mirrors can be MHD-stabilized by end losses. Neutral-beam-sustained operation to ~0.6, and Te~0.2 keV, with 5 ms 5 MW neutral beams on the Gas Dynamic Trap (GDT) has been demonstrated at the Budker Institute in Novosibirsk, Russia. Applications of this concept can reduce risks in the fusion program. A GDT-scale facility could test plasma-material interactions (PMI) at up to 400 MW/m2 and 5 s pulse duration for divertor development. Extrapolation of the GDT to a Dynamic Trap Neutron Source, DTNS, provides a DT-fusion neutron flux of 2 MW/m2 over 1 m2, at a power-plant efficiency of Q ~ 0.07. (A DTNS enables development and testing of materials and sub-component structures, for fusion power plants, MFE or IFE. A DTNS functions regardless of whether the tested components work. These developments would reduce risks for a tokamak Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF)). Further extrapolation to 0.2 Q 10 single-cell or tandem mirror yields several fusion-fission hybrid applications. Further extension to a pure-fusion axisymmetric-tandem-mirror power plant, requires Q>10. Tandem mirrors demand the use of different stabilization techniques that are not dependent on out-flowing plasma, a number of which have been proposed, and could be experimentally tested on the GDT.