Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Read, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Read, M..

6 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

High efficiency, low cost, RF sources for accelerators and colliders

Accelerators for High Energy Physics (HEP) are large users of energy, much of it in the form of radiofrequency (RF) power to accelerate particles to very high energies. Proposed HEP projects will require even larger amounts of RF energy. Increasing concerns of the cost and availability of energy will require the HEP community to use energy as efficiently as possible. Successful transfer of HEP technology to the public and private sectors will be most effective if it is highly efficient. Historically, the HEP community has utilized available RF power sources, mainly in the form of vacuum tube technology, much of which was developed during the cold war or is otherwised used in the private sector. The private sector is moving to solid-state RF sources which do not exhibit the electrical efficiency that is needed for future HEP projects. Here we summarize the state of the development of a number of RF sources that promise efficiencies of 80% and above. We also outline future efforts that are needed to fully realize the potential of these sources.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Observations of pressure anisotropy effects within semi-collisional magnetized plasma bubbles

Magnetized plasma interactions are ubiquitous in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Various physical effects have been shown to be important within colliding plasma flows influenced by opposing magnetic fields, however, experimental verification of the mechanisms within the interaction region has remained elusive. Here we discuss a laser-plasma experiment whereby experimental results verify that Biermann battery generated magnetic fields are advected by Nernst flows and anisotropic pressure effects dominate these flows in a reconnection region. These fields are mapped using time-resolved proton probing in multiple directions. Various experimental, modelling and analytical techniques demonstrate the importance of anisotropic pressure in semi-collisional, high- β plasmas, causing a reduction in the magnitude of the reconnecting fields when compared to resistive processes. Anisotropic pressure dynamics are crucial in collisionless plasmas, but are often neglected in collisional plasmas. We show pressure anisotropy to be essential in maintaining the interaction layer, redistributing magnetic fields even for semi-collisional, high energy density physics (HEDP) regimes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

The TRANSCEND University Consortium: Theme 4: Nuclear Materials - 20431

The safe and secure management of Pu is a matter of international concern, with ∼250 t of separated Pu currently stockpiled worldwide. The UK's civil inventory of nuclear materials contains significant stocks of separated Pu from the reprocessing of Magnox and AGR spent fuels. The preferred option for the 138.5 tonnes of Pu is re-use as mixed oxide (MOx) fuel, although 5% is not suitable for re-use and is recommended for direct disposal. However, it will take more than 15 years to implement re-use, requiring that the Pu be kept in interim storage in its current state for that period, i.e. as PuO{sub 2} powder within inert steel storage cans at Sellafield. The focus of the work presented here is thus plutonium storage and the direct disposal of plutonium. The Research and Development needs of both are now pressing: in the case of storage due to it being the current default; in the case of immobilization and disposal because of a comparative lack of Research and Development on Pu conditioning and packaging due to policy uncertainty as to whether it would be disposed of in a Geologic Disposal Facility (GDF). Addressing these needs is complicated by Pu's high radioactivity, decay heat and radiotoxicity, criticality, nuclear safeguard requirements and, for some UK Pu contaminated materials targeted for disposal, poor inventory. Thus, there is also a critical requirement for underpinning research on Pu bearing materials in these two contexts. In response to these needs, the TRANSCEND Consortium (Transformative Science and Engineering for Nuclear Decommissioning, a multi-disciplinary collaboration of 11 universities and 8 key industry partners from across the UK's civil nuclear sector) is seeking to provide technical underpinning to ongoing option development for the UK's civil Pu stockpile. Whilst understanding the behaviour of plutonium during its re-use as MOx is beyond the scope of the TRANSCEND Consortium work plan, the main objectives of the work are: (1) For interim storage: to understand how the surface structure and properties of pristine and radiation damaged PuO{sub 2} change with time in the absence and presence of water; and (2) For immobilization and disposal: to understand the mechanisms of incorporation of Pu into ceramic and glass-ceramic waste-forms, as well as the effect on these of self-induced radiation damage. Each objective is being addressed through separate work packages, the details of which are discussed in this paper. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2018

The DISTINCTIVE University Consortium: Theme 2: PuO{sub 2} and Fuel Residues - 18132

The safe and secure management of Pu is a matter of serious international concern, with ∼250 t of separated Pu currently stockpiled worldwide. Nearly 50% of this material is in long-term storage in the UK whilst the British government develops its options for final treatment and disposition. Options for this are: (i) reuse as a fuel in modern reactors (e.g. as MOX fuel or within a fast reactor) prior to disposal; (ii) prompt immobilisation for disposal as soon as is practicable; or, (iii) continued long term storage (prior to disposition). The focus of the work presented here is options (ii) and (iii). The R and D needs of both are now pressing: in option (iii) due to it being the current default; in option (ii) because of a comparative lack of R and D on Pu conditioning and packaging due to policy uncertainty as to whether it would be disposed of in a Geologic Disposal Facility (GDF). Addressing these needs is complicated by Pu's high radioactivity, decay heat and radiotoxicity, nuclear safeguard requirements and, for some UK Pu contaminated materials targeted for disposal, poor inventory. Thus, there is also a critical requirement for underpinning research on characterisation methods for Pu bearing materials. In response to these needs, the DISTINCTIVE Consortium (Decommissioning, Immobilisation and Storage Solutions for Nuclear Waste Inventories, a multi-disciplinary collaboration of 11 universities and 3 key industry partners from across the UK's civil nuclear sector) has been seeking to: - Understand how the structure and properties of PuO{sub 2} change with time in the presence of H{sub 2}O. - Understand the roles these processes play in gaseous product evolution from PuO{sub 2} in storage. - Understand radiation-induced amorphization and dissolution kinetics of Pu waste forms. - Develop novel, fast neutron based radiometric methods for the quantification, isotopic composition assessment and remote imaging of Pu-bearing materials. This paper describes recent progress made towards achieving these objectives. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗