Physics Colloquium

Mike Kotschenreuther and Prashant Valanju, IFS, UT Austin

"Fusion Fission Hybrids - UT invents a unique path to green nuclear energy"

4:15pm, The John A. Wheeler Lecture Hall (RLM 4.102)

Coffee and cookies will be served at 4:00pm in RLM 4.102

Abstract:

Recent inventions at the University of Texas (Institute for fusion studies) have led to the scientific design of a near term implementable Fusion Fission Hybrid reactor that exploits the unique neutron producing abilities of nuclear fusion to “augment” nuclear fission. The result is a combined nuclear energy system that does cure, substantially, some of the more fundamental problems (like the nuclear waste) associated with fission power. Since producing neutrons via fusion is a much less onerous task than producing net fusion energy, the Fusion Fission Hybrid, by making fission energy environmentally and socially acceptable, can vastly facilitate the sorely needed fast transition to carbon free energy. Major scientific/ technical innovations that have gone into the making and working of the Hybrid will be discussed. A possible energy perspective in the hybrid -assisted era will also be provided.