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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.
B.J. Peterson, J.N. Talmadge, D.T. Anderson, F.S.B. Anderson, P.G. Matthews, J.L. Shohet
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 27 | Number 3 | April 1995 | Pages 215-218
Helical Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A11947072
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Mach probe measurements of bias-induced ion flows were made in the Interchangeable Module Stellarator (IMS) as a function of neutral pressure and viscosity (which increases with minor radius) and compared to a fluid theory model. Using a probe model for an unmagnetized plasma, the poloidal flow speed measured with a Mach probe agrees with that calculated from momentum balance to within 15%. The dependencies of the measured ion flow magnitudes and decay rates on neutral pressure and viscosity as predicted by the theory are qualitatively observed in the experimental measurements, clearly demonstrating the effects of both ion-neutral collisions and viscosity in the damping of the bias-induced flows. However, the measured flow direction is nearly poloidal, while the theory predicts a predominantly Pfirsch-Schlüter-like toroidal flow. Also, the two-dimensional variation at a constant toroidal angle of the parallel electron current was measured in an unbiased plasma. The measured profiles demonstrate the dependence of the current on both the radial pressure gradient and the cosine of the poloidal angle, as predicted by theory.