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DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
G. E. Dale, M. A. Bourham
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 34 | Number 3 | November 1998 | Pages 901-907
Plasma Facing Components Technology (Poster Session) | doi.org/10.13182/FST98-A11963727
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper describes melt-layer erosion experiments conducted at North Carolina State University. Metallic samples are exposed to a pulsed plasma heat flux produced by an electrothermal plasma gun. Results for aluminum (2042 Al), copper (OFHC Cu), and stainless steel (316 SS) samples are discussed. The electrothermal plasma gun operated at discharge energies between 0.07 and 8.62 kJ. The sample absorbed fluence ranged between 0.09 and 1.93 MJ/m2. The net erosion depth of aluminum approached 1 mm at high energies. Following exposure the samples are bisected to reveal the thickness of material resolidified to the surface. A thickness of resolidified material on an aluminum sample in excess of 50 μm is observed.