Podcasts Technology Titans Of Nuclear | Interviewing World Experts on Nuclear Energy Ep 123: Dennis Whyte - Head of Nuclear Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Ep 123: Dennis Whyte - Head of Nuclear Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Published: Nov. 20, 2018, 11 a.m.

In this episode we discuss...

  • Dennis’ background and personal journey in the nuclear industry
  • A deep dive into tokamaks and their innerworkings
  • The definition of a plasma
  • Why heat and density are crucial to successful fusion and the material challenges involved
  • How tritium is extracted from lithium
  • Requirements to prevent coolant itself from becoming radioactive
  • Design challenges surrounding fusion systems including pumps and their inability to distinguish between helium and unburned fuel
  • The physics of magnetism
  • Dennis’ mission to change the global nuclear industry through his work at MIT to make fusion economically viable