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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
Nuclear Technology
September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Copper melting behavior at extreme temperatures could inform fusion materials
Using SLAC’s electron camera, researchers recorded timestamps of solid copper atoms (orange) as they melted (yellow) after being blasted with laser heat. This graphic shows how copper atoms changed over a period of several femtoseconds (millionths of a billionth of a second), notated here as fractions of a picosecond. Instead of the predicted collapse, the researchers saw a gradual melting. (Image: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has announced researchers have conducted experiments testing how copper melts under extreme conditions, such as those it might be exposed to in a fusion machine. The results, published in Nature Communications, found that a copper thin film was more resilient to melting than models had predicted, uncovering molecular dynamics that had been missing from calculations.
“These results greatly improve the simulations we use to predict which materials have the best shot at surviving the extreme conditions of future fusion reaction chambers,” said Mianzhen Mo, the SLAC staff scientist who led the research.
October 5–9, 2025
Fueling the Future – Building on our Legacy
Nashville, TN|DoubleTree, Downtown Nashville
Featured Speaker
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman
TopFuel 2025 is the leading international conference on new developments in nuclear reactor fuel performance. Held annually and rotating between Asia, Europe, and the US, this event gathers experts from around the world. The theme for the 2025 meeting is “Fueling the Future – Building on our Legacy.” It reflects our commitment to advancing nuclear fuel technology while honoring the achievements that have brought us to this point. This year, the conference will continue to emphasize Light Water Reactor (LWR) fuel performance while also expanding to include Advanced Reactor fuels. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest innovations, share research, and collaborate on the future of nuclear energy.
All sponsors are recognized on the conference website and in promotional communications. All sponsors will also be acknowledged at the Opening Plenary and on signage displayed throughout the conference. Sponsorship packages are limited, so reserve your package early. Download the Sponsor Prospectus
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