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Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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!
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
N.I. Arkhipov, V.P. Bakhtin, S.M. Kurkin, V.M. Safronov, D.A. Toporkov, S.G. Vasenin, H. Wuerz, A.M. Zhitlukhin
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 35 | Number 1 | January 1999 | Pages 131-135
Oral Presentations | doi.org/10.13182/FST99-A11963837
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Process of interaction of intense plasma fluxes up to 10 MW/cm2 with solid targets was studied experimentally. It was shown that a dense plasma layer arises near target surface and protects the target from direct effect of an incoming high temperature plasma. Spatial distribution and temporal behavior of the shielding layer depend on the target materials. For a high Z materials (tungsten, copper, stainless steel) dense plasma layer is localized near the surface during all time of the interaction. For a low Z materials (graphite, boron nitrid, plexiglass, aluminium) low dense plasma cloud – “corona” rapidly expands toward incoming plasma flow along the magnetic field lines. The experiments demonstrated effective shielding of the different materials surface from excessive evaporation. Bulk energy of incoming plasma is converted into SXR radiation in near surface layer for a high Z materials and, partially, into target plasma heating for a low Z materials. Measured parameters of plasma shield are used as a benchmark in developing numerical codes to predict a real damage for ITER divertor plates due to hard disruptions.