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International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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Sam Altman steps down as Oklo board chair
Advanced nuclear company Oklo Inc. has new leadership for its board of directors as billionaire Sam Altman is stepping down from the position he has held since 2015. The move is meant to open new partnership opportunities with OpenAI, where Altman is CEO, and other artificial intelligence companies.
G. M. Wallace, C. E. Kessel, J. Hosea, R. Majeski, J. R. Wilson, T. Rognlien, L. M. Waganer
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 76 | Number 1 | January 2020 | Pages 53-61
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2019.1629253
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper addresses the potential impact of liquid metal (LM) plasma-facing components (PFCs) for the heating and current drive (H&CD) actuators on the Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) fusion reactor. Fulfilling the high neutron fluence mission of the FSNF requires steady-state operation for extremely long pulses (months to years) between maintenance opportunities. The use of LM as a surface material is one strategy for extending the lifetime of the PFCs for long pulse operation in a high heat flux, high neutron flux environment like that of the FNSF. Liquid metal PFCs provide possible pathways forward on many difficult aspects of a fusion reactor; however, the LM PFCs also bring new challenges and unknowns with respect to the H&CD actuators needed to provide steady-state operation. The development of LM-compatible materials for radio-frequency (RF) antennas will be critical, as well as strategies for minimizing contamination of antenna surfaces and the core plasma. Successful deployment of LM PFCs on the FNSF will require operational experience with RF in a LM environment both on test stands and in an integrated toroidal environment.