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
Feb 2026
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
January 2026
Latest News
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.
R.J. Thome, R.D. Pillsbury, Jr., W.R. Mann
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 453-458
Blanket and First Wall Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22905
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The rapid decay of magnetic flux during a plasma disruption induces voltages, currents, and Lorentz loadings in nearby electrically-conducting material. Present designs employ toroidal shells or shell segments near the plasma. These shells are divided into sectors for assembly and maintenance considerations, but may have toroidally-continuous conducting paths due to the need for vacuum boundaries. Voltages induced across sector gaps may initiate arcing and subsequent material damage. In addition, induced eddy currents in the shells can interact with the toroidal field and generate large net torques on a sector. A finite element model was used to estimate the induced sector gap voltages and net overturning moments following a 10 ms disruption. The number of shells, toroidal continuity, resistivity, and shell thicknesses were varied. Results are presented that show the effects of these changes on the sector gap voltages and induced loads.