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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.
Mark D. Hoover, Michael D. Allen, Richard B. Simpson, Hsu Chi Yeh
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 1228-1233
Environment and Safety | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24898
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A pulsed Nd:YAG laser is being used to aerosolize material from the surface of metal targets to simulate particles created in fusion energy systems. Targets in the form of rods up to 2-cm diameter can be attached to a screw mechanism that exposes a fresh surface for each laser pulse. Energies up to 20 J/pulse can be applied to the target, at pulse rates from a single shot to 300 Hz. Energy can be focused on an area with diameter less than 500 µm. Stainless steel and aluminum targets were used in a demonstration of system performance. The branched-chain ultrafine aggregate aerosols that were produced appeared to result from direct vaporization/condensation of material from the surface of the target located under the center of the laser beam, and from ejection of molten droplets from the target surface.
