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Conference Spotlight
2025 ANS Winter Conference & Expo
November 9–12, 2025
Washington, DC|Washington Hilton
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
November 2025
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The journey of the U.S. fuel cycle
Craig Piercycpiercy@ans.org
While most big journeys begin with a clear objective, they rarely start with an exact knowledge of the route. When commissioning the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson didn’t provide specific “turn right at the big mountain” directions to the Corps of Discovery. He gave goal-oriented instructions: explore the Missouri River, find its source, search for a transcontinental water route to the Pacific, and build scientific and cultural knowledge along the way.
Jefferson left it up to Lewis and Clark to turn his broad, geopolitically motivated guidance into gritty reality.
Similarly, U.S. nuclear policy has begun a journey toward closing the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle. There is a clear signal of support for recycling from the Trump administration, along with growing bipartisan excitement in Congress. Yet the precise path remains unclear.
Technical Session
Tuesday, July 23, 2024|10:00–11:50AM CDT|Assembly
Session Chair:
Lauren M. Garrison (Commonwealth Fusion Systems)
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Charles Hirst
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Introduction and Status of the Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source Risk Reduction Activity
10:00–10:25AM CDT
Brian Grierson (General Atomics), Sara Ferry (MIT), Phil Ferguson (ORNL), Jaime Marian (Univ. of California, Los Angeles), Eric Pitcher (Boston Government Services), Brian Wirth (Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville), Jim White (StrataG)
Paper
Ion-Beam-Driven Polywell Fusion Prototypic Neutron Source
10:25–10:50AM CDT
Ross Radel (SHINE Technologies), Nicholas Krall (EMC2), Thomas Weber (LANL)
Micro-FPNS Concept for a 1 DPA/yr 14.1 MeV Neutron Source Based on the Hybrid Electrostatic/Magnetic Confinement Orbitron Fusion Reactor
10:50–11:10AM CDT
Robin Langtry (Avalanche Energy Designs)
Thermal Gradient and Neutron Irradiation Experiment Design for Fusion Reactor Materials in the Advanced Test Reactor
11:10–11:30AM CDT
Michael Worrall (INL), Daniel Chapman (INL), Ryan Sandbek (INL), Hanns Gietl (INL), Nicolas Woolstenhulme (INL), Jason Brookman (INL)
Accelerating Ion Irradiation Sample Throughput via Lateral Gas Implantation Gradients
11:30–11:50AM CDT
Charles A. Hirst (Univ. Michigan), Aäron G. Penders (Univ. Michigan), Alexander Flick (Univ. Michigan), Fabian U. Naab (Univ. Michigan), Logan N. Clowers (Univ. Michigan), Lauren M. Garrison (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Cody A. Dennett (Commonwealth Fusion Systems), Michael P. Short (MIT), Gary S. Was (Univ. Michigan)
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