Energy from the Nucleus

The Science and Engineering of Fission and Fusion

Nuclear energy is important both as a very large energy resource and as a source of carbon free energy. However incidents such as the Fukashima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011), the Chernobyl disaster (1986), and the Three Mile Island accident (1979) have cast doubts on the future of nuclear fission as a major player in the future energy mix. This volume provides an excellent overview of the current situation regarding nuclear fission as well as a description of the enormous potential advantages offered by nuclear fusion including an essentially unlimited fuel supply with minimal environmental impact.

Energy from the Nucleus focuses on the two main approaches to producing energy from the nucleus: fission and fusion. The chapters on nuclear fission cover the status of current and future generations of reactors as well as new safety requirements and the environmental impact of electricity production from nuclear fission. The chapters on nuclear fusion discuss both inertial confinement fusion and magnetic confinement fusion, including the new international fusion test facility, ITER. The expertise of the authors, who are active participants in the respective technologies, ensures that the information provided is both reliable and current. Their views will no doubt enlighten our understanding of the future of energy from the nucleus.

Contents:

• Fundamentals of Nuclear Fission (Bertrand Barré)
• Current and Future Fission Power Plants (Bertrand Barré)
• Nuclear Safety and Waste Management (Bertrand Barré)
• Indirect-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion (Erik Storm and John D Lindl)
• Direct-Drive Laser Fusion (John Sethian)
• Magnetic Fusion Energy (M C Zarnstorff and R J Goldston)
• Creating A Star — The Global ITER Partnership (M Uhran)

Readership: Students and Professionals interested in/dealing with Nuclear Engineering; Scientists, Engineers and Policy makers interfacing with Nuclear Engineering and Power.
Key Features:

• This is a comprehensive look at all the possible approaches to obtaining energy from the nucleus including the promise and the difficulties
• The expertise of the authors of the various chapters ensures that the information is reliable
• The information presented is current and forward looking because the authors are actively involved in the technologies discussed in the various chapters