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.
Sergei Yu. Medvedev, Sergei E. Sharapov
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 22 | Number 4 | December 1992 | Pages 470-473
Alpha-Particle Special | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A30082
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The stabilizing compressibility effect of trapped alpha particles on low-frequency magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) ballooning modes (Re ω ≪ Im ω) in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is investigated. It is found that this stabilization is the most effective one in the central region of the plasma column, where the unstable region of MHD ballooning modes is located for typical flat q(ψ) profiles in ITER. The alpha-particle distribution function is supposed to be isotropic and slowing down in energy. It has been found that the values of βα/βtotal ≅ 1.5 to 2.0% are sufficient to stabilize ballooning modes in the central low-shear region for the peaked pressure profiles [P(ψ) = P(0)(1 − ψ)γ] proposed for ITER. The value of βα/βtotal remains almost unchanged to suppress the instability for all γ = 1.0 to 2.0.
