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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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
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.
D. R. Harding, J. Ulreich, M. D. Wittman, R. Chapman, C. Taylor, R. Taylor, N. P. Redden, J. C. Lambropoulos, R. Q. Gram, M. J. Bonino, D. W. Turner
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 73 | Number 3 | April 2018 | Pages 324-334
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1374812
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Improving the performance of direct-drive cryogenic targets at the Omega Laser Facility requires the development of a new cryogenic system to (1) field nonpermeable targets with a fill tube and (2) provide a clean environment around the target. This capability is to demonstrate that imploding a scaled-down version of the direct-drive ignition target for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) on the OMEGA laser will generate the hot-spot pressure that is needed for ignition; this will justify future cryogenic direct-drive experiments on the NIF cryogenic targets. The paper describes the target, the cryogenic equipment that is being constructed to achieve this goal, and the proposed target delivery process. Thermal calculations, fill tube–based target designs, and structural/vibrational analyses are provided to demonstrate the credibility of the design.
This new design will include capabilities not available (or possible) with the existing OMEGA cryogenic system, with the emphasis being to preserve a pristinely clean environment around the target and to provide upgraded diagnostics to characterize both the ice layer and the target’s surface. The conceptual design is complete and testing of prototypes and subcomponents is underway. The rationale and capabilities of the new design are discussed.