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Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Christmas Night
Twas the night before Christmas when all through the houseNo electrons were flowing through even my mouse.
All devices were plugged in by the chimney with careWith the hope that St. Nikola Tesla would share.
K. Holtrop, D. Buchenauer, C. Chrobak, C. Murphy, R. Nygren, E. Unterberg, M. Zach
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 72 | Number 4 | November 2017 | Pages 634-639
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1347456
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Future tokamak devices are envisioned to utilize a high-Z metal divertor with tungsten as the leading candidate. However, tokamak experiments with tungsten divertors have seen significant detrimental effects on plasma performance. The DIII-D tokamak presently has carbon as the plasma facing surface but to study the effect of tungsten on the plasma and its migration around the vessel, two toroidal rows of carbon tiles in the divertor region were modified with high-Z metal inserts, composed of a molybdenum alloy (TZM) coated with tungsten. A dedicated two week experimental campaign was run with the high-Z metal inserts. One row was coated with tungsten containing naturally occurring levels of isotopes. The second row was coated with tungsten where the isotope 182W was enhanced from the natural level of 26% up to greater than 90%. The different isotopic concentrations enabled the experiment to differentiate between the two different sources of metal migration from the divertor. Various coating methods were explored for the deposition of the tungsten coating, including chemical vapor deposition, electroplating, vacuum plasma spray, and electron beam physical vapor deposition. The coatings were tested to see if they were robust enough to act as a divertor target for the experiment. Tests included cyclic thermal heating using a high power laser and high-fluence deuterium plasma bombardment. The issues associate with the design of the inserts (tile installation, thermal stress, arcing, leading edges, surface preparation, etc.), are reviewed. The results of the tests used to select the coating method and preliminary experimental observations are presented.