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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
July 2025
Latest News
Hash Hashemian: Visionary leadership
As Dr. Hashem M. “Hash” Hashemian prepares to step into his term as President of the American Nuclear Society, he is clear that he wants to make the most of this unique moment.
A groundswell in public approval of nuclear is finding a home in growing governmental support that is backed by a tailwind of technological innovation. “Now is a good time to be in nuclear,” Hashemian said, as he explained the criticality of this moment and what he hoped to accomplish as president.
Ethan Frey, Eduardo Marin, Grayson Lovelace, Jarrod Williams, Ragad Mohammed, Casey Kong, Fred Elsner, Wendi Sweet
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 79 | Number 7 | October 2023 | Pages 862-869
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2022.2151287
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
General Atomics-Carbon Hydrogen (GA-CH) and General Atomics-Carbon Deuterium (GA-CD) aerogels have applications as inertial confinement fusion (ICF) targets at the National Ignition Facility, Omega Laser Facility, and Z Pulsed Power Facility. However, fusion experiments at these facilities require the fabrication of precise geometries of aerogels, achievable only by machining. Unfortunately, machining low-density (<50 mg/cm3) GA-CH aerogels is difficult, given their fragile structure. Higher-density GA-CH aerogels, although easier to machine, are left with a small nub after machining. This work investigates filling the GA-CH gel pores with wax to increase their machinability. The wax was added by exchanging the solvent of the GA-CH gel with melted wax. In addition, 1- to 2-mm spherical voids were created within the aerogels using fused quartz beads that were leached with hydrofluoric acid. Samples were characterized for contaminants, structural damage, dopant loss, and surface roughness using size measurements, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-computed tomography imaging, and optical profilometry. Through advances in aerogel fabrication techniques, progress is made toward testing new ICF target designs.