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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
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.
T. Schober, H. Conrads, Armin Schulz
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 23 | Number 2 | March 1993 | Pages 227-229
Technical Note | Materials Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST93-A30150
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Niobium deuteride samples are exposed to vacuum sparks with plasma temperatures exceeding 10 keV and a density of >1023 cm−3. An investigation of the surfaces of the niobium deuteride samples by scanning electron microscopy reveals clear signs of surface melting, orifices, bubbles, blisters, and cracks. The surface features are explained in terms of a very high vapor pressure of deuterium forming in niobium at temperatures near its melting point. Vacuum sparks touching the surfaces for ∼1 µs may expel most of the deuterium from the surface region.
