Nuclear reaction defies expectations

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Dec 10, 2010

A novel kind of fission reaction observed at the CERN particle physics laboratory in Geneva has exposed serious weaknesses in our current understanding of the nucleus. The fission of mercury-180 was expected to be a "symmetric" reaction that would result in two equal fragments but instead produced two nuclei with quite different masses, an "asymmetric" reaction that poses a significant challenge to theorists.

Nuclear fission involves the splitting of a heavy nucleus into two lighter nuclei. According to the liquid-drop model, which describes the nucleus in terms of its macroscopic quantities of surface tension and electrostatic repulsion, fission should be symmetric. Some fission reactions are, however, asymmetric, including many of those of uranium and its neighbouring actinide elements. These instead can be understood by also using the shell model, in which unequal fragments can be preferentially created if one or both of these fragments contains a "magic" number of protons and/or neutrons. For example, one of the fragments produced in many of the fission reactions involving actinides is tin-132, which is a "doubly-magic" nucleus, containing 50 protons and 82 neutrons.

The latest work, carried out by a collaboration of physicists using CERN's ISOLDE radioactive beam facility, investigated the interplay between the macroscopic and microscopic components of nuclear fission. It used what is known as beta-delayed fission, a two-step process in which a parent nucleus beta decays and then the daughter nucleus undergoes fission if it is created in a highly excited state. This kind of reaction allows scientists to study fission reactions in relatively exotic nuclei and was first studied at the Flerov Laboratory in Dubna, Russia, about 20 years ago, although the Dubna measurements did not reveal the masses of the fragments produced.

The experiment at ISOLDE involved firing a proton beam at a uranium target and then using laser beams and a magnetic field to filter out ions of thallium-180 from among the wide variety of nuclei produced in the proton collisions. These ions then became implanted in a carbon foil, where they underwent beta decay and some of the resulting atoms of mercury-180 then fissioned. Silicon detectors placed in front of and behind the foil allowed the energies of the fission products to be measured.

The researchers were expecting the fission reaction to be symmetric, with the mercury-180 splitting into two nuclei of zirconium-90, a result thought to be particularly favoured because these nuclei would contain a magic number of neutrons (50) and a "semi-magic" number of protons (40). What they found, however, was quite different. The energy of the fission products recorded in the silicon detectors did not peak at one particular value, which would be the case if only one kind of nuclei was being produced in the reactions, but instead showed two distinct peaks centred around the nuclei ruthenium-100 and krypton-80.

Collaboration spokesperson Andrei Andreyev of the University of Leuven, Belgium, (and currently at the University of West of Scotland) says that this asymmetric fission was unexpected because the observed fragments do not contain any magic or semi-magic shells. His colleague, theorist Peter Möller of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US had in fact devised a model of the nucleus that predicted that mercury-180 would undergo asymmetric fission. But he wasn't able to explain why that is, having plotted a three-dimensional potential energy surface for the fission of mercury-180 and then identified a minimum in that surface, but he couldn't identify which of the three variables were responsible for that minimum.

Phil Walker of the University of Surrey in the UK, who is not a member of the collaboration, describes the research as a "beautiful experimental achievement" that has "an impressive theoretical outcome". He says that the result will be mainly of interest to academics but believes that it might just have practical implications. "Much of our energy generation depends on nuclear fission," he points out, "and if we want to make reactors safer and cheaper we need to be able to trust the basic theory of the fission process. I would say that the theory has been found to be sadly lacking, and it needs to be fixed."

Andreyev agrees. "I hope that as a result of our paper theorists will start to think about this problem and tell us what is happening," he says. "For the moment we don't know."

The research appears in Physical Review Letters.

Edwin Cartlidge is a science writer based in Rome

View the original article here

8th Conference on Nuclear and Particle Physics

Conference on Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPPAC)is the traditional Egyptian conference on nuclear and particle physics organized biennially on a regular basis since 1997. Nuclear and particle scientists meet in friendly atmosphere to present their achievements and discuss future plans.

View the original article here

8th Conference on Nuclear and Particle Physics

Conference on Nuclear and Particle Physics (NUPPAC)is the traditional Egyptian conference on nuclear and particle physics organized biennially on a regular basis since 1997. Nuclear and particle scientists meet in friendly atmosphere to present their achievements and discuss future plans.

View the original article here

Nuclear Cooperation in Latin America

ARCAL provides a framework for Member States in Latin America and the Caribbean to intensify their collaboration through programmes and projects focused on the specific shared needs of its members. (Photo: J. Pérez-Vargas/ IAEA)

Representatives from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries met today in Vienna during the 54th IAEA General Conference to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ARCAL, a cooperation agreement for the promotion of nuclear science and technology in the region.

ARCAL provides a framework for Member States collaboration with the support of the IAEA and other international co-operation entities. It addresses key development priorities focusing on pressing needs related to food security, human health, environment, energy and industry, and radiological safety.

"We are celebrating 25 years of ARCAL and the progress achieved in all these years," said Ambassador Carlos Barros, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the IAEA.

"From now on we need to expand the agreement´s framework and maximize its reach. We have eighteen projects scheduled for the biennium 2012-13 and we are prioritizing them so that every country and the region in general can profit fully from nuclear technologies."

The work of ARCAL has been crucial and innovative because many countries lack adequate know-how in the field of science and technology.

"Many of our countries lack the technology to treat cancer, for example, and nuclear technology has been vital to our efforts to eradicate this ailment which has such a great impact in the region," says Liliana Solís Díaz, Director General of Costa Rica´s Atomic Energy Commission.

"Other applications include the use of isotopic techniques for identifying hydrological and geothermal resources and determining the extent of their contamination. This has enabled Costa Rica to establish policies to protect these valuable resources."

"In the area of agriculture, my country has been able to increase quality and yield of such a vital crop as rice."

The IAEA has supported ARCAL since its inception in 1984.

José Antonio Lozada, Programme Management Officer for the IAEA Division of Latin America, Department of Technical Cooperation, spoke of ARCAL as one of the best examples of South-South cooperation among developing countries.

"Countries with a more advanced level of nuclear knowledge host fellows from neighbouring countries to train them," he said.

Areas of cooperation span across human health, food safety, environment, energy and radiation safety.

"ARCAL focuses on radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and the treatment of infect contagious diseases, as in the prompt detection of ailments such as dengue," explains the IAEA?s Lozada.

"By accelerating detection, patients can be treated more rapidly and effectively."

"In the area of nuclear energy, ARCAL has enabled the technological transference in the use of energy planning models so that each country can predict what its energy demand would be and find ways to meet its needs."

ARCAL technical cooperation projects provide capacity-building through expert missions, training courses, meetings, scholarships, scientific visits and workshops.

Background

ARCAL provides a framework for Member States in Latin America and the Caribbean to intensify their collaboration through programmes and projects focused on the specific shared needs of its members.

It was established in 1984, and was made a formal inter-governmental agreement in 1998.

Between 1984 and 2009, over 1 000 professionals and technicians have been trained through a total of 72 ARCAL projects in industry, radiochemistry, radiation medicine, nutrition and soil and water management.

The acronym stems from its Spanish name (Acuerdo Regional de Cooperación para la Promoción de la Ciencia y la Tecnología Nucleares en América Latina y el Caribe).

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Juanita Pérez-Vargas and Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Nuclear Fusion Basics

Signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the IAEA and ITER Organization. In the photo, Yury Sokolov, Deputy Director General of the IAEA (left), and Kaname Ikeda, Director General of the ITER Organization (right). (22nd IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 13 October 2008).

Fusion, a form of nuclear energy generated when light-weight atoms fuse, is the process at work in every star's core, releasing an enormous amount of energy. Researchers have been trying to harness fusion and reproduce it on earth in a controlled manner. If they succeed, they will provide the world a safe, sustainable, environmentally responsible and abundant source of energy.

For decades, the scientific community has been pursuing nuclear fusion, yet now research has reached a critical stage, as scientists are building an experimental reactor that one day may demonstrate that fusion can be used commercially to create electrical power.

What is Fusion?
For more than 50 years, energy has been generated in nuclear power plants through fission, a process in which heavy elements such as uranium are bombarded by neutrons releasing heat in the process.

Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, is based on the opposite principle. In fusion reactors, light atomic nuclei are compressed under intense pressure and heat to form heavier ones and release energy in the process. The process must be optimized to generate more energy than it consumes. With a sufficiently large and sustainable energy 'profit', fusion could be utilized to generate electricity commercially.

The main fuels used in nuclear fusion are deuterium and tritium, both heavy isotopes of hydrogen. Deuterium constitutes a tiny fraction of natural hydrogen, only 0,0153%, and can be extracted inexpensively from seawater. Tritium can be made from lithium, which is also abundant in nature.

The amount of deuterium present in one litre of water can in theory produce as much energy as the combustion of 300 litres of oil. This means that there is enough deuterium in the oceans to meet human energy needs for millions of years.

Ways to Fusion
Building a fusion power plant that can withstand the immense temperature and pressures this process produces is one of the century's greatest engineering challenges. The fuel, made up of the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, must be heated to about 100 million degrees centigrade. At that hotter-than-the-sun temperature, a fully ionized gas-plasma is formed. The plasma will then be ignited to create fusion. At present, scientists are pursuing two methods for achieving nuclear fusion: inertial and magnetic confinement.

In inertial confinement systems, ion beams or laser beams are used to compress a pea-sized deuterium-tritium fuel pellet to extremely high densities. When a critical point is reached, the pellet is ignited through shock wave heating.

Fusion power plants using this technique would ignite fuel pellets several times per second. The resulting heat is then used to generate steam that powers electricity-generating turbines.

In magnetic confinement systems, electromagnets are used to contain the plasma fuel. One of the most promising options, the tokamak device, contains the plasma in a doughnut-shaped chamber. A powerful electric current is induced in the plasma, resulting in an increase in temperature. The plasma is also heated by auxiliary systems such as microwaves, radiowaves or accelerated particles. In the process, temperatures of several hundred million degrees centigrade are achieved.

Benefits for Mankind
The potential advantages of nuclear fusion energy are manifold, as it represents a long-term, sustainable, economic and safe energy source for electricity generation.

Fuel is inexpensive and abundant in nature, while the amount of long-lived radioactive waste and greenhouse gases produced through fusion are minimal.

While research on nuclear fusion continues, many spin-offs relating to plasma physics and fusion technology are already benefiting society. These include improvements in materials research, such as ceramic, metals and coatings, and industrial processes such as welding and waste removal.

By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information.

View the original article here

Nuclear Prevention Is Better Than the Cure

The IAEA is in a unique position to facilitate dialogue and the sharing of experience among operators from across the world. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

Countries embarking on a nuclear programme or activity should consider the decommissioning of a nuclear facility and remediation of the environment even before laying the first stone. This was the message emerging from an expert meeting on decommissioning and environmental remediation held today at the 54th IAEA General Conference.

With hundreds of aging and out-of-use nuclear facilities undergoing decommissioning and contaminated sites to be remediated throughout the world, the importance of dealing with the so called "legacy issues" and ensuring that those building new facilities can avoid a repeat of previous mistakes is a priority for the nuclear community.

The IAEA is in a unique position to facilitate dialogue and the sharing of experience among operators and regulators from across the world.

"We want people to share what they have learned with each other and especially with those tackling these problems for the first time," said Tero Varjoranta, the IAEA´s Director of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology.

Networking is an important aspect of bringing remediation and decommissioning considerations forward as it can provide a unique opportunity for the sharing and exchange of information and experience from a global perspective. Comparing information and experiences often lead to finding the most efficient answer to an issue.

The IAEA´s Environmental Management and Remediation Network (ENVIRONET) and International Decommissioning Network (IDN) have already been successful in engaging several hundred professionals in more than 70 Member State organizations in this exchange of experience and know-how, complementing other IAEA efforts to actively support several decommissioning and environmental remediation programmes in Member States.

"Through its technical cooperation programmes, the IAEA supports decommissioning projects in a number of countries," indicated Ana María Cetto, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation.

Given the widespread nature of the issue, Member States representatives to the 54th IAEA General Conference are currently considering an international action plan for decommissioning and remediation in which the IAEA networks could play a key role.

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Honest Nuclear Broker

IAEA experts met with Member States representatives to illustrate the services available to countries interested in nuclear power. (Photo: G. Verlini/IAEA)

With 65 countries expressing an interest in launching a nuclear power programme, the need for an "honest nuclear broker" that provides them with impartial advise is higher than ever. The IAEA can fulfil that role.

As the world´s leading international centre of nuclear cooperation promoting the safe, secure and sustainable development of nuclear power, the IAEA can offer impartial, non-commercial advice to countries with little or no experience in nuclear power.

At a briefing held during the 54th IAEA General Conference, IAEA experts met with Member States representatives to illustrate the services available to countries interested in nuclear power, including the newly-launched Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Group (INIG).

The Group, which brings together and coordinates technical services from different IAEA Departments, offers newcomer countries a comprehensive approach to nuclear power development.

"INIG builds on and strengthens mechanisms already in place within the IAEA," explained Anne Starz, who heads the IAEA´s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Group.

As part of its array of services offered to countries, the IAEA also runs workshops and fora for nuclear newcomers.

"Our aim is to help Member States´ become intelligent nuclear customers," said Starz.

During the briefing, representatives from both technology holder and receiver countries described how international cooperation is helping meet the world´s rising demand for nuclear power.

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Premier Nuclear Policy-Making Conference Closes

Delegates at the IAEA 54th General Conference (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The IAEA's 54th General Conference of Member States concluded on 24 September 2010, in Vienna. Over 1 300 delegates from the IAEA´s 151 Member States attended the annual policy-making meeting.

On Friday, the General Conference adopted resolutions to guide the Agency´s work in the coming year:

The full texts of adopted resolutions and the Presidential statement will be posted in due course on the IAEA website.

The 2010 Scientific Forum gathered internationally renowned cancer experts in an intensive, moderated two-day discussion. Dignitaries, senior officials, doctors and cancer control advocates examined the issue of combating cancer in developing countries, calling for a concerted, long-term global response to stop the cancer epidemic.

Several notable anniversaries were celebrated during the General Conference: the 25th anniversary of the Regional Agreement of Technical Cooperation for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as its applications for development (ARCAL), and the 10th anniversary of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO).

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Peter Kaiser, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Nuclear Fusion Prize Winners

Left-hand photo: John E Rice (centre), MIT, the Winner of the 2010 Nuclear Fusion journal Award receives the award certificate and trophy from the Chair of the Board of Editors of Nuclear Fusion, Mitsuru Kikuchi (left), Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Werner Burkart (right), Deputy Director General, IAEA

Right-hand photo: Steven Sabbagh, Columbia University / PPPL (centre), the Winner of the 2009 Nuclear Fusion journal Award receives the award certificate and trophy from the Chair of the Board of Editors of Nuclear Fusion, Mitsuru Kikuchi (left), Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Werner Burkart (right), Deputy Director General, IAEA

The Nuclear Fusion Prize Nuclear Fusion journal website

During the 2010 Fusion Energy Conference, held in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, the Nuclear Fusion Prize was presented to the 2009 and 2010 winners on 11 October 2010.

The Prize Winner for 2009 winner is Steve Sabbagh from the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York. He received the award as the lead author of a landmark paper which reports record parameters of beta in a large spherical torus plasma and presents a thorough investigation of the physics of Resistive Wall Mode (RWM) instability. The paper makes a significant contribution to the critical topic of RWM stabilization.

The recipient of the 2010 award is John Rice, Principal Research Scientist, on the Alcator Project at MIT?s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Cambridge, as the lead author of a seminal paper that analyzes results across a range of machines in order to develop a universal scaling that can be used to predict intrinsic rotation. The timeliness of this paper is the anticipated applicability of this scaling to ITER.

Background The Nuclear Fusion Prize is awarded annually to recognise outstanding work published in the journal.

Each year, a shortlist of ten papers is nominated for the Nuclear Fusion prize. These are papers of the highest scientific standard, published in the journal volume from two years previous to the award year. Nominations are based on citation record and recommendation by the Board of Editors. The Board then votes by secret ballot to determine which of these papers has made the largest scientific impact.

View the original article here

Developing a Nuclear Workforce

Professor Peddicord (left) and Mr. Sokolov sign the agreement. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

Safe and sustainable nuclear power plant operation is one of the many areas that depend upon sustained nuclear knowledge management. The IAEA´s Nuclear Knowledge Management programs help Member States strengthen their nuclear education and training programmes. As a part of that on-going effort, the IAEA signed a "practical arrangement" with the Nuclear Power Institute (NPI), based at Texas A&M University, USA, on 24 September.

The arrangement was signed at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna on 24 September by IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy Yury Sokolov and Professor Kenneth L. Peddicord, NPI Director. Sokolov said he was "pleased to have a formal arrangement in place with a leading institution for promoting nuclear knowledge." NPI develops internationally-recognized nuclear engineering programmes and undertakes outreach and support to encourage young people to pursue careers in nuclear science and technology.

Texas A&M appreciated the opportunity to work with the IAEA, Peddicord said, in this joint enterprise to promote nuclear knowledge management. The University creates nuclear education curricula for students ranging from elementary school to post-graduate studies.

Under the arrangement, the IAEA and NPI will co-operate to promote nuclear knowledge management in the IAEA´s Member States by transferring knowledge, developing and delivering educational material that will fit the needs of countries considering introducing nuclear power, support IAEA nuclear education and outreach missions, and help transfer material to the IAEA Member States´ educational institutions.

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Misha Kidambi, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Guiding Hands in Nuclear Regulation

The IAEA supports nuclear newcomer countries in their efforts to launch safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programmes. (Photo: M. Kidambi/IAEA)

Nothing can replace experience, the old saying goes, and the IAEA is working to ensure that experience and knowledge in nuclear regulation is shared among States. Through the recently-launched Regulatory Cooperation Forum, the IAEA supports nuclear newcomer countries in their efforts to launch safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programmes.

While the Forum is Member-driven, the IAEA has the role of facilitating and promoting coordination and collaboration among regulators, so that States can learn from the breadth of international experience available.

"The kinds of requests we receive from newcomers are extremely demanding," said Denis Flory, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

"Naturally, as IAEA we have an array of services available to Member States, but real life experience is irreplaceable. Many States know where they are now and where they would like to be. However, this is not an easy path," explained Flory.

"The best way to get through this evolution is through the guidance of those who have already gone the way."

Members of the Forum met today in Vienna under the IAEA´s aegis to discuss strategies and plans for the coming months. Coordination and information sharing is seen as a crucial tool to address the needs of nuclear newcomers and guarantee effective regulations are in place across the world´s nuclear sector.

Background

Representatives from State regulatory bodies that met at the 2009 IAEA Conference on Effective Nuclear Regulatory Systems held in Cape Town, South Africa, agreed to establish a Forum to provide effective coordination and collaboration among requesting Member States and those asked to provide regulatory support.

The Regulatory Cooperation Forum held its inception meeting on 21 June 2010.

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Nuclear Fusion Basics

Signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the IAEA and ITER Organization. In the photo, Yury Sokolov, Deputy Director General of the IAEA (left), and Kaname Ikeda, Director General of the ITER Organization (right). (22nd IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Geneva, Switzerland, 13 October 2008).

Fusion, a form of nuclear energy generated when light-weight atoms fuse, is the process at work in every star's core, releasing an enormous amount of energy. Researchers have been trying to harness fusion and reproduce it on earth in a controlled manner. If they succeed, they will provide the world a safe, sustainable, environmentally responsible and abundant source of energy.

For decades, the scientific community has been pursuing nuclear fusion, yet now research has reached a critical stage, as scientists are building an experimental reactor that one day may demonstrate that fusion can be used commercially to create electrical power.

What is Fusion?
For more than 50 years, energy has been generated in nuclear power plants through fission, a process in which heavy elements such as uranium are bombarded by neutrons releasing heat in the process.

Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, is based on the opposite principle. In fusion reactors, light atomic nuclei are compressed under intense pressure and heat to form heavier ones and release energy in the process. The process must be optimized to generate more energy than it consumes. With a sufficiently large and sustainable energy 'profit', fusion could be utilized to generate electricity commercially.

The main fuels used in nuclear fusion are deuterium and tritium, both heavy isotopes of hydrogen. Deuterium constitutes a tiny fraction of natural hydrogen, only 0,0153%, and can be extracted inexpensively from seawater. Tritium can be made from lithium, which is also abundant in nature.

The amount of deuterium present in one litre of water can in theory produce as much energy as the combustion of 300 litres of oil. This means that there is enough deuterium in the oceans to meet human energy needs for millions of years.

Ways to Fusion
Building a fusion power plant that can withstand the immense temperature and pressures this process produces is one of the century's greatest engineering challenges. The fuel, made up of the hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, must be heated to about 100 million degrees centigrade. At that hotter-than-the-sun temperature, a fully ionized gas-plasma is formed. The plasma will then be ignited to create fusion. At present, scientists are pursuing two methods for achieving nuclear fusion: inertial and magnetic confinement.

In inertial confinement systems, ion beams or laser beams are used to compress a pea-sized deuterium-tritium fuel pellet to extremely high densities. When a critical point is reached, the pellet is ignited through shock wave heating.

Fusion power plants using this technique would ignite fuel pellets several times per second. The resulting heat is then used to generate steam that powers electricity-generating turbines.

In magnetic confinement systems, electromagnets are used to contain the plasma fuel. One of the most promising options, the tokamak device, contains the plasma in a doughnut-shaped chamber. A powerful electric current is induced in the plasma, resulting in an increase in temperature. The plasma is also heated by auxiliary systems such as microwaves, radiowaves or accelerated particles. In the process, temperatures of several hundred million degrees centigrade are achieved.

Benefits for Mankind
The potential advantages of nuclear fusion energy are manifold, as it represents a long-term, sustainable, economic and safe energy source for electricity generation.

Fuel is inexpensive and abundant in nature, while the amount of long-lived radioactive waste and greenhouse gases produced through fusion are minimal.

While research on nuclear fusion continues, many spin-offs relating to plasma physics and fusion technology are already benefiting society. These include improvements in materials research, such as ceramic, metals and coatings, and industrial processes such as welding and waste removal.

By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information.

View the original article here

Premier Nuclear Policy-Making Conference Closes

Delegates at the IAEA 54th General Conference (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

The IAEA's 54th General Conference of Member States concluded on 24 September 2010, in Vienna. Over 1 300 delegates from the IAEA´s 151 Member States attended the annual policy-making meeting.

On Friday, the General Conference adopted resolutions to guide the Agency´s work in the coming year:

The full texts of adopted resolutions and the Presidential statement will be posted in due course on the IAEA website.

The 2010 Scientific Forum gathered internationally renowned cancer experts in an intensive, moderated two-day discussion. Dignitaries, senior officials, doctors and cancer control advocates examined the issue of combating cancer in developing countries, calling for a concerted, long-term global response to stop the cancer epidemic.

Several notable anniversaries were celebrated during the General Conference: the 25th anniversary of the Regional Agreement of Technical Cooperation for the Promotion of Nuclear Science and Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as its applications for development (ARCAL), and the 10th anniversary of the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO).

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Peter Kaiser, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Nuclear Fusion Prize Winners

Left-hand photo: John E Rice (centre), MIT, the Winner of the 2010 Nuclear Fusion journal Award receives the award certificate and trophy from the Chair of the Board of Editors of Nuclear Fusion, Mitsuru Kikuchi (left), Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Werner Burkart (right), Deputy Director General, IAEA

Right-hand photo: Steven Sabbagh, Columbia University / PPPL (centre), the Winner of the 2009 Nuclear Fusion journal Award receives the award certificate and trophy from the Chair of the Board of Editors of Nuclear Fusion, Mitsuru Kikuchi (left), Japan Atomic Energy Agency and Werner Burkart (right), Deputy Director General, IAEA

The Nuclear Fusion Prize Nuclear Fusion journal website

During the 2010 Fusion Energy Conference, held in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, the Nuclear Fusion Prize was presented to the 2009 and 2010 winners on 11 October 2010.

The Prize Winner for 2009 winner is Steve Sabbagh from the Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York. He received the award as the lead author of a landmark paper which reports record parameters of beta in a large spherical torus plasma and presents a thorough investigation of the physics of Resistive Wall Mode (RWM) instability. The paper makes a significant contribution to the critical topic of RWM stabilization.

The recipient of the 2010 award is John Rice, Principal Research Scientist, on the Alcator Project at MIT?s Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Cambridge, as the lead author of a seminal paper that analyzes results across a range of machines in order to develop a universal scaling that can be used to predict intrinsic rotation. The timeliness of this paper is the anticipated applicability of this scaling to ITER.

Background The Nuclear Fusion Prize is awarded annually to recognise outstanding work published in the journal.

Each year, a shortlist of ten papers is nominated for the Nuclear Fusion prize. These are papers of the highest scientific standard, published in the journal volume from two years previous to the award year. Nominations are based on citation record and recommendation by the Board of Editors. The Board then votes by secret ballot to determine which of these papers has made the largest scientific impact.

View the original article here

Honest Nuclear Broker

IAEA experts met with Member States representatives to illustrate the services available to countries interested in nuclear power. (Photo: G. Verlini/IAEA)

With 65 countries expressing an interest in launching a nuclear power programme, the need for an "honest nuclear broker" that provides them with impartial advise is higher than ever. The IAEA can fulfil that role.

As the world´s leading international centre of nuclear cooperation promoting the safe, secure and sustainable development of nuclear power, the IAEA can offer impartial, non-commercial advice to countries with little or no experience in nuclear power.

At a briefing held during the 54th IAEA General Conference, IAEA experts met with Member States representatives to illustrate the services available to countries interested in nuclear power, including the newly-launched Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Group (INIG).

The Group, which brings together and coordinates technical services from different IAEA Departments, offers newcomer countries a comprehensive approach to nuclear power development.

"INIG builds on and strengthens mechanisms already in place within the IAEA," explained Anne Starz, who heads the IAEA´s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Group.

As part of its array of services offered to countries, the IAEA also runs workshops and fora for nuclear newcomers.

"Our aim is to help Member States´ become intelligent nuclear customers," said Starz.

During the briefing, representatives from both technology holder and receiver countries described how international cooperation is helping meet the world´s rising demand for nuclear power.

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Guiding Hands in Nuclear Regulation

The IAEA supports nuclear newcomer countries in their efforts to launch safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programmes. (Photo: M. Kidambi/IAEA)

Nothing can replace experience, the old saying goes, and the IAEA is working to ensure that experience and knowledge in nuclear regulation is shared among States. Through the recently-launched Regulatory Cooperation Forum, the IAEA supports nuclear newcomer countries in their efforts to launch safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programmes.

While the Forum is Member-driven, the IAEA has the role of facilitating and promoting coordination and collaboration among regulators, so that States can learn from the breadth of international experience available.

"The kinds of requests we receive from newcomers are extremely demanding," said Denis Flory, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.

"Naturally, as IAEA we have an array of services available to Member States, but real life experience is irreplaceable. Many States know where they are now and where they would like to be. However, this is not an easy path," explained Flory.

"The best way to get through this evolution is through the guidance of those who have already gone the way."

Members of the Forum met today in Vienna under the IAEA´s aegis to discuss strategies and plans for the coming months. Coordination and information sharing is seen as a crucial tool to address the needs of nuclear newcomers and guarantee effective regulations are in place across the world´s nuclear sector.

Background

Representatives from State regulatory bodies that met at the 2009 IAEA Conference on Effective Nuclear Regulatory Systems held in Cape Town, South Africa, agreed to establish a Forum to provide effective coordination and collaboration among requesting Member States and those asked to provide regulatory support.

The Regulatory Cooperation Forum held its inception meeting on 21 June 2010.

See Story Resources for more information.

-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

View the original article here

Developing a Nuclear Workforce

Professor Peddicord (left) and Mr. Sokolov sign the agreement. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

Safe and sustainable nuclear power plant operation is one of the many areas that depend upon sustained nuclear knowledge management. The IAEA´s Nuclear Knowledge Management programs help Member States strengthen their nuclear education and training programmes. As a part of that on-going effort, the IAEA signed a "practical arrangement" with the Nuclear Power Institute (NPI), based at Texas A&M University, USA, on 24 September.

The arrangement was signed at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna on 24 September by IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy Yury Sokolov and Professor Kenneth L. Peddicord, NPI Director. Sokolov said he was "pleased to have a formal arrangement in place with a leading institution for promoting nuclear knowledge." NPI develops internationally-recognized nuclear engineering programmes and undertakes outreach and support to encourage young people to pursue careers in nuclear science and technology.

Texas A&M appreciated the opportunity to work with the IAEA, Peddicord said, in this joint enterprise to promote nuclear knowledge management. The University creates nuclear education curricula for students ranging from elementary school to post-graduate studies.

Under the arrangement, the IAEA and NPI will co-operate to promote nuclear knowledge management in the IAEA´s Member States by transferring knowledge, developing and delivering educational material that will fit the needs of countries considering introducing nuclear power, support IAEA nuclear education and outreach missions, and help transfer material to the IAEA Member States´ educational institutions.

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-- By Misha Kidambi, IAEA Division of Public Information

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Nuclear Prevention Is Better Than the Cure

The IAEA is in a unique position to facilitate dialogue and the sharing of experience among operators from across the world. (Photo: D. Calma/IAEA)

Countries embarking on a nuclear programme or activity should consider the decommissioning of a nuclear facility and remediation of the environment even before laying the first stone. This was the message emerging from an expert meeting on decommissioning and environmental remediation held today at the 54th IAEA General Conference.

With hundreds of aging and out-of-use nuclear facilities undergoing decommissioning and contaminated sites to be remediated throughout the world, the importance of dealing with the so called "legacy issues" and ensuring that those building new facilities can avoid a repeat of previous mistakes is a priority for the nuclear community.

The IAEA is in a unique position to facilitate dialogue and the sharing of experience among operators and regulators from across the world.

"We want people to share what they have learned with each other and especially with those tackling these problems for the first time," said Tero Varjoranta, the IAEA´s Director of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology.

Networking is an important aspect of bringing remediation and decommissioning considerations forward as it can provide a unique opportunity for the sharing and exchange of information and experience from a global perspective. Comparing information and experiences often lead to finding the most efficient answer to an issue.

The IAEA´s Environmental Management and Remediation Network (ENVIRONET) and International Decommissioning Network (IDN) have already been successful in engaging several hundred professionals in more than 70 Member State organizations in this exchange of experience and know-how, complementing other IAEA efforts to actively support several decommissioning and environmental remediation programmes in Member States.

"Through its technical cooperation programmes, the IAEA supports decommissioning projects in a number of countries," indicated Ana María Cetto, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation.

Given the widespread nature of the issue, Member States representatives to the 54th IAEA General Conference are currently considering an international action plan for decommissioning and remediation in which the IAEA networks could play a key role.

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-- By Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

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Nuclear Cooperation in Latin America

ARCAL provides a framework for Member States in Latin America and the Caribbean to intensify their collaboration through programmes and projects focused on the specific shared needs of its members. (Photo: J. Pérez-Vargas/ IAEA)

Representatives from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries met today in Vienna during the 54th IAEA General Conference to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ARCAL, a cooperation agreement for the promotion of nuclear science and technology in the region.

ARCAL provides a framework for Member States collaboration with the support of the IAEA and other international co-operation entities. It addresses key development priorities focusing on pressing needs related to food security, human health, environment, energy and industry, and radiological safety.

"We are celebrating 25 years of ARCAL and the progress achieved in all these years," said Ambassador Carlos Barros, Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the IAEA.

"From now on we need to expand the agreement´s framework and maximize its reach. We have eighteen projects scheduled for the biennium 2012-13 and we are prioritizing them so that every country and the region in general can profit fully from nuclear technologies."

The work of ARCAL has been crucial and innovative because many countries lack adequate know-how in the field of science and technology.

"Many of our countries lack the technology to treat cancer, for example, and nuclear technology has been vital to our efforts to eradicate this ailment which has such a great impact in the region," says Liliana Solís Díaz, Director General of Costa Rica´s Atomic Energy Commission.

"Other applications include the use of isotopic techniques for identifying hydrological and geothermal resources and determining the extent of their contamination. This has enabled Costa Rica to establish policies to protect these valuable resources."

"In the area of agriculture, my country has been able to increase quality and yield of such a vital crop as rice."

The IAEA has supported ARCAL since its inception in 1984.

José Antonio Lozada, Programme Management Officer for the IAEA Division of Latin America, Department of Technical Cooperation, spoke of ARCAL as one of the best examples of South-South cooperation among developing countries.

"Countries with a more advanced level of nuclear knowledge host fellows from neighbouring countries to train them," he said.

Areas of cooperation span across human health, food safety, environment, energy and radiation safety.

"ARCAL focuses on radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and the treatment of infect contagious diseases, as in the prompt detection of ailments such as dengue," explains the IAEA?s Lozada.

"By accelerating detection, patients can be treated more rapidly and effectively."

"In the area of nuclear energy, ARCAL has enabled the technological transference in the use of energy planning models so that each country can predict what its energy demand would be and find ways to meet its needs."

ARCAL technical cooperation projects provide capacity-building through expert missions, training courses, meetings, scholarships, scientific visits and workshops.

Background

ARCAL provides a framework for Member States in Latin America and the Caribbean to intensify their collaboration through programmes and projects focused on the specific shared needs of its members.

It was established in 1984, and was made a formal inter-governmental agreement in 1998.

Between 1984 and 2009, over 1 000 professionals and technicians have been trained through a total of 72 ARCAL projects in industry, radiochemistry, radiation medicine, nutrition and soil and water management.

The acronym stems from its Spanish name (Acuerdo Regional de Cooperación para la Promoción de la Ciencia y la Tecnología Nucleares en América Latina y el Caribe).

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-- By Juanita Pérez-Vargas and Giovanni Verlini, IAEA Division of Public Information

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