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Fusion Science and Technology
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In transition: Commercializing fusion power
Commercial fusion power is closer than ever. There are now around 30 U.S. fusion companies, several of which claim to be on track to connect to the grid as early as the 2030s.
Tokamak and laser inertial confinement approaches benefit from decades of research at facilities such as the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and ITER, with alternative concepts including stellarator, magnetic mirror, and Z-pinch confinement also making notable progress as private and government funding for fusion increases.
W. A. Coleman
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 46 | Number 1 | October 1971 | Pages 12-21
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE71-A22331
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Monte Carlo calculations for monoenergetic x rays (70 to 200 keV) normally incident on soil have been performed to determine changes in the reflected radiation due to material perturbations at depths of 1 and 1.6 mean-free-paths. The accuracy of the calculations was achieved using a scheme of correlated sampling in which a “complete correlation” is maintained in the sense that identical sampled event sequences are used for the perturbed and unperturbed problem. A somewhat general discussion of correlated sampling is included with emphasis on the mathematical reasons for employing the method. It is shown for a special case that a naive use of correlated sampling may lead to results drastically inferior to those obtained by independent sampling. The Monte Carlo calculations are compared with two-dimensional discrete ordinates results and agreement is very good. Output quantities are reported in terms of energy-dependent fluence and current. The calculated results demonstrate the feasibility of the approach to albedo sensitivity problems in general.