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Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
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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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Latest News
Fermilab center renamed after late particle physicist Helen Edwards
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s Integrated Engineering Research Center, which officially opened in January 2024, is now known as the Helen Edwards Engineering Center. The name was changed to honor the late particle physicist who led the design, construction, commissioning, and operation of the lab’s Tevatron accelerator and was part of the Water Resources Development Act signed by President Biden in December 2024, according to a Fermilab press release.
P. M. Burns et al.
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 56 | Number 1 | July 2009 | Pages 346-351
High Average Power Laser and Other IFE R&D | Eighteenth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Part 1) | doi.org/10.13182/FST09-A8926
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Electra is a high average power KrF laser system at the Naval Research Laboratory funded under the HAPL program. The goal of Electra is to develop the laser driver technologies needed for an inertial fusion energy power plant. When run in an oscillator configuration the 500 kV, 100 kA e-beam pumped main amplifier produces 730 J with a 100ns pulse width at 248 nm. KrF lasers have been shown to have intrinsic efficiencies of 12%leading to a projected wall plug efficiency of >7% for an IFE system with demonstrated improvements in laser physics and pulse power technologies. As an oscillator the Electra main amplifier has run continuously at 1 Hz,2.5 Hz, and 5 Hz for multi-thousand shot runs.This paper will discuss recent results from Electra including operation as a complete laser amplifier system, first demonstration of a new method to efficiently cool the hibachi foil with indications of a reduced penalty in laser uniformity, and design modifications to increase durability.