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Division Spotlight
Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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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Latest News
Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
D. L. Hollis
Nuclear Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | March 1971 | Pages 325-327
Technical Paper | Shielding | doi.org/10.13182/NT71-A30966
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A study is made of utilizing electron trapping in dielectrics as a means of reducing bremsstrahlung in spacecrafts at synchronous altitude. Traps retain electrons, and large internal electric fields are induced within the dielectric. Electrons penetrating the insulating material can lose most of their kinetic energy to the electric field with a subsequent decrease in energy loss to bremsstrahlung. This acts to reduce bremsstrahlung production. It also lowers the average radiation energy of that which is produced, with consequent increase in probability of absorption by the wall. Breakdown phenomenon causes the shielding effect of the trapped electrons to be cyclic. A thin layer of dielectric material on the external surface of a spacecraft should provide an effective, light, and inexpensive shield against bremsstrahlung while not interfering with any of the system functions. Electron-trap shielding is applicable not only to space, but wherever a dielectric-charge layer is allowed to accumulate.