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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
J. M. Robson, J. Kroon
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 1 | Number 1 | January 1981 | Pages 160-164
Technical Note | Fusion | doi.org/10.13182/FST81-A19923
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Measurements have been made of the thermal neutron fluxes at various distances from a point source of 14-MeV neutrons embedded in three large shields. The first shield consisted of a 24-m3 assembly of solid concrete building blocks of density 2.2 g/cm3 and gave an attenuation length of 14.1 ± 0.7 cm at a distance of 150 cm from the source. The second shield was a layered assembly of wood and concrete blocks with a mean density of 1.92 g/cm3 and gave an attenuation length of 15.7 ± 0.7 cm at the same distance. The third assembly consisted of a cube of side 61 cm of steel surrounded by concrete blocks; at a distance of 120 cm from the source it gave an attenuation length of 9.3 ± 0.4 cm.