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September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Chas. W. von Rosenberg, Jr.
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 21 | Number 3 | May 1992 | Pages 1600-1604
Inertial Fusion Driver | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A29948
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The laser driver system we describe is coupled to the SOMBRERO reactor concept. This is the Inertial Fusion for Energy (IFE) design concept generated by the W.J. Schafer Team for a recent DOE study1. The nominal plant design has 1 GW electrical output and requires a KrF laser driver system that supplies 3.4 MJ per pulse onto a spherically symmetric, direct drive target, at a repetition rate of 6.7 pps. We describe an architecture which results from the constraints of what must be supplied at the target, coupled with a final amplifier design which makes use of e-beam pumped, angularly multiplexed, 60 kJ final amplifier cavities, recent technology advancements in e-beams and pulsed power, and which has been optimized for system efficiency. Driver system efficiency of more than 7% (“wall plug”), and an effective efficiency of more than 9%, obtained through utilization of laser waste heat, are projected.
