ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Going Nuclear: Notes from the officially unofficial book tour
I work in the analytical labs at one of Europe’s oldest and largest nuclear sites: Sellafield, in northwestern England. I spend my days at the fume hood front, pipette in one hand and radiation probe in the other (and dosimeter pinned to my chest, of course). Outside the lab, I have a second job: I moonlight as a writer and public speaker. My new popular science book—Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World—came out last summer, and it feels like my life has been running at full power ever since.
F. Bombarda, B. Coppi, F. Franza, Z. S. Hartwig, G. Ramogida, M. Zucchetti
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 61 | Number 1 | January 2012 | Pages 95-100
Fusion | Proceedings of the Fifteenth International Conference on Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST12-A13403
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Fusion creates more neutrons per energy released than fission or spallation, therefore DT fusion facilities have the potential to become the most intense sources of neutrons for material testing. An Ignitor-like device, that is a compact, high field, high density machine could be envisaged for this purpose making full use of the intense neutron flux that it can generate, without reaching ignition. The main features of this High Field Neutron Source Facility, which would have about 50% more volume than Ignitor, are illustrated and the R&D required in order to achieve relevant dpa quantities in the tested materials are discussed, in particular the adoption of superconducting magnet coils. Radiation damage evaluations have been performed by means of the ACAB code, showing the potential of high field, neutron-rich devices for fusion material testing. Few full-power months of operation are sufficient to obtain significant radiation damage values (in terms of dpa) of large size samples (~m3). The setup of a duty cycle for the device in order to obtain such operation times is discussed. The problem of radiation damage to the insulator of the Toroidal Field Coils has been explored. Two strategies for mitigating damage to the TF coil insulators have been demonstrated, and it is likely that both will need to be implemented to ensure the survival of the insulating material for the lifetime of the tokamak.