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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.
V. Ya. Goloborod'ko, Ya. I. Kolesnichenko, S. N. Reznik, V. A. Yavorskij
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 25 | Number 3 | May 1994 | Pages 249-257
Technical Paper | Alpha-Particle Special / Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A30281
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A kinetic equation is derived for the neoclassical distribution function of alpha particles with orbits intersecting or approaching the magnetic axis of a tokamak. This equation takes into account both the collisional slowing down and the pitch-angle scattering of alpha particles. An equation with a simplified pitchangle scattering term is solved analytically, and the distribution function obtained is used to find the alpha-particle bootstrap current at the magnetic axis. It is shown that the pitch-angle scattering leads to an alpha-particle current in the near-axis region that is larger than the one predicted from early neoclassical theory, which allows only for the slowing down of alpha particles.
