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Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
First astatine-labeled compound shipped in the U.S.
The Department of Energy’s National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) on March 31 announced the successful long-distance shipment in the United States of a biologically active compound labeled with the medical radioisotope astatine-211 (At-211). Because previous shipments have included only the “bare” isotope, the NIDC has described the development as “unleashing medical innovation.”
Samaneh Fazelpour, Hossein Sadeghi, Amir Chakhmachi, Morteza Habibi
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 81 | Number 1 | January 2025 | Pages 82-98
Note | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2024.2326378
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The influence of the magnetic field configuration on the performance of a helicon-based negative ion source is investigated with simulation experiments. Using COMSOL Multiphysics software, a three-dimensional simulation model for a negative ion source, based on a helicon plasma source, is presented in two magnetic field configurations: uniform and nonuniform configurations.
The helicon plasma source employed a Nagoya-type antenna to apply radio-frequency (RF) power at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. The injected gas is hydrogen with a flow of 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute. Using a three-dimensional model, helicon wave propagation in the presence of a magnetic filter and the energy absorption mechanism in the helicon system are investigated. In this context, in the presence of the two magnetic field configurations, the influence of the important parameters’ working pressure and RF power on the optimization of negative ion production under volume mode is studied. Six electromagnetic coils at the same current are used for producing the magnetic field in both cases of uniform and nonuniform configurations. The variation of the electron density and electron temperature, in both regions of driver and expansion, are calculated and represented with respect to the different power and the gas pressure.
The simulation results of the negative ion density in the expansion region for the uniform and nonuniform magnetic field configurations are compared. The results indicate that at the same applied current of coils, the negative ion density in the presence of the nonuniform magnetic field is about 1.75 times higher than the negative ion density of the uniform case. Moreover, the results show that the negative ion density is decreased by decreasing the magnetic field of the driver region in the nonuniform cases.