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.
G. Miley, J. Stubbins, M. Ragheb, C. Choi, B. Adams, G. Magelssen, R. Martin
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 889-894
Inertial Confinement Fusion | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22973
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Alternate fuel configurations which enable tritium to be bred within the target itself could provide a significant advantage for ICF reactors. The present work considers a D-fueled target (termed the “AFLINT” concept) for this purpose. A target design is proposed that provides recycle of tritium for manufacture of subsequent targets in a “closed cycle” fashion. 3He is also recycled to obtain optimum burn conditions. For reactor studies, a Hg+1 heavy ion beam driver and a dual liquid-fall reactor chamber are considered. The chamber concept employs a thin inner liquid-fall to absorb the x-rays and target debris while a second outer fall serves to recondense the vaporized liquid, protect the first structural wall against neutron damage, and absorb the radial momentum transfer from the disintegrating inner fall. This design allows a compact geometry (i.e. high power density) while avoiding excessive pumping power requirements for the liquid metal falls.