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.
John G. Gilligan, Phillip D. Stroud
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 440-447
Technical Paper | First-Wall Technology | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24784
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The fusion of common wall coating materials is considered in high-temperature plasmas. The concept is attractive since the detrimental effects of these materials as primary impurities are diminished. It is determined that fusion power densities can be increased by including the impurity reactions for a specified impurity content; however, this increase is more than offset by the corresponding decrease in power density due to primary fuel depletion. It is noted that impurity fusion reactions should be included in fuel cycle analyses since ash isotopes may impact the vacuum pumping technology of the reactor.