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
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
July 2025
Latest News
Applications open for the fall cohort of Mentor Match
Applications are officially open for the second cohort of the American Nuclear Society’s newly redesigned mentoring program. Mentor Match is a unique opportunity available only to ANS members that offers year-round mentorship and networking opportunities to Society members at any point in their education.
The deadline to apply for membership in the fall cohort, which will take place October 1–November 30, is September 17. The application form can be found here.
T. Schober, H. Conrads, Armin Schulz
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 23 | Number 2 | March 1993 | Pages 227-229
Technical Note | Materials Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST93-A30150
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Niobium deuteride samples are exposed to vacuum sparks with plasma temperatures exceeding 10 keV and a density of >1023 cm−3. An investigation of the surfaces of the niobium deuteride samples by scanning electron microscopy reveals clear signs of surface melting, orifices, bubbles, blisters, and cracks. The surface features are explained in terms of a very high vapor pressure of deuterium forming in niobium at temperatures near its melting point. Vacuum sparks touching the surfaces for ∼1 µs may expel most of the deuterium from the surface region.