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Conference Spotlight
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.
J. D. Galambos, D. J. Strickler, Y-K. M. Peng, R. L. Reid
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 483-488
Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39746
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Trade studies are performed to determine the optimum plasma elongation for a next-step tokamak such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Degradations of the plasma beta limit for high elongations and poloidal field coil scaling with elongation are included in the analysis. When plasma ignition is required using confinement scalings that include direct plasma current or power degradation terms, the optimum elongation is between 2.5 and 2.9, but generally the minimum-cost curve is relatively flat for elongations over 2.3. When confinement scalings that depend only on size are used or when only current drive performance is required, the optimum elongation is near 2.3. Also, when only a plasma current and neutron wall load are used as plasma performance limits, the optimum elongation is between 2.6 and 2.8, but with small cost benefits above elongations of 2.3.