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Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Juho Lehmusto, J. Matthew Kurley, III, Ercan Cakmak, James R. Keiser, Daniel Lindberg, Markus Engblom, Bruce A. Pint, Stephen S. Raiman
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 198 | Number 3 | March 2024 | Pages 727-734
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2023.2204175
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A new apparatus was built to rapidly cool molten salts in liquid argon to prevent contamination during quenching and enable new insight into the structure in the liquid state. To test the applicability of the apparatus, several industrially relevant chloride salt compositions were first melted, rapidly solidified, and then characterized. The design proved applicable for the rapid quenching of molten salt. Furthermore, the structure of the apparatus prevented exposure of the rapidly quenched salt to impurities (humidity, oxygen, etc.). X-ray diffraction of salt specimens cooled with and without liquid argon showed differences including a structure further from the expected stoichiometric equilibrium with rapid cooling. Of particular interest is the chemical state of metallic impurities, and this may be probed using electron paramagnetic resonance.