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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
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September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Porous tungsten scrubbed by glow discharge cleaning
Researchers conducted experiments in Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s Lithium Tokamak Experiment-Beta (LTX-β) showing glow discharge cleaning can be used to effectively clean samples of porous tungsten—used to hold liquid lithium in fusion machine inner walls—manufactured from powder-reconstituted materials, according to a paper published in Nuclear Materials and Energy.
Tungsten is widely used for plasma-facing components in fusion machines, especially in the divertor region where materials must withstand extreme levels of power flow. According to the paper, spark plasma sintering can be used to make tungsten into spongelike samples for holding liquid lithium.
Technical Session|Panel|Panels
Saturday, April 5, 2025|3:15–4:35PM MDT|Tijeras
Session Chair:
Osman Anderoglu
Alternate Chair:
G. Ivan Maldonado
Session Organizer:
Ashley Machado
From sodium cooled fast fission reactors to liquid lead lithium blankets in fusion reactors, liquid metals play a crucial role in nuclear technologies. This panel will discuss current research and industry projects involving liquid metals, examining their scope, and how the nuclear industry as a whole stands to benefit. A majority of the focus will be given to the design, objectives, and lessons learned from liquid metal facilities such as the Lobo Lead Loop and the upcoming Lobo Lead-Lithium Loop. Additionally, the discussion will cover the future of liquid metals as coolants in both fusion and fission reactors within the scope of these two research projects.
Son Quang
Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville
Jennifer Espersen
Xavier Angus
Univ. New Mexico
Daniel Levario