Effects of radiation on materials

SEP 01, 1975

Key problems that more physicists could help with include embrittlement of pressure vessels in water reactors, swelling of fuel elements in fast breeders and plasma contamination and wall erosion in fusion reactors.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3069156

Frederick L. Vook

The United States is conducting an intensive search for more—and lower cost—energy. Because of its relatively low cost, nuclear energy is rapidly becoming an important energy source. However, there are still unsolved technological problems in the present and projected nuclear industry; many of these arise from the interaction of nuclear particles with the solid materials in the reactor.

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References

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More about the authors

Frederick L. Vook, Radiation and Surface Physics Research Department, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque.