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DESCRIPTION:Sina Tafti\, UVA - Department of Physics\n\n
I will share
two applications of spin-polarized noble gas imaging using magnetic reson
ant imaging. To date\, self-sustained fusion energy production has not bee
n achieved since the energy spent in containing the plasma favorable for f
usion reaction surpasses the energy outcome. Spin-polarized fusion (SPF) p
romises a 50% boost in fusion cross section between deuterium and tritium
(or He-3). However\, SPF has not been experimentally tested in a reactor f
or several logistical challenges related to delivery of polarized fuels to
the plasma.
\n\nIn collaboration w
ith General Atomics and JLab\, we propose to optimize and measure polariza
tion survival of spin-polarized He-3 during permeation into polymer-shelle
d inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) pellets\, a crucial step toward achiev
ing SPF. Granted that adequate polarization survival into the pellets is a
chieved\, the SPF reaction of D and 3He will be tested in the General Atom
ics D-III D Tokamak which would be the very first experimental demonstrati
on of SPF in a fusion energy reactor.
\n\n<
p style="margin-left:0in\; margin-right:0in">
CT has been the golden standard imaging technique to characterize an
d quantify emphysema\, however\, it exposes the body to ionizing radiation
. An alternative image based method of characterizing emphysematous lung t
issue is by having the patient inhale spin-polarized noble gas (He-3 or Xe
-129) and image the gas inside the lungs. Since diffusion of the gas molec
ules inside the lungs are constrained by the microstructure of the lungs\,
how far gas molecules travel can tell us about regional tissue destructio
n due to emphysema. Here we introduce a novel method of defining emphysema
index based on apparent diffusion coefficient maps acquired using a diffu
sion-weighted MRI pulse sequence. \n
DTSTART:20180424T193000Z
LOCATION:Physics Building\, Room 204
SUMMARY:1. Toward Spin-Polarized Nuclear Fusion: MRI of Laser-Polariz
ed He-3 Permeating Through Polymer-Shell Tokamak Pellets 2. A Novel
Method of Defining Emphysema Index Using MRI of Laser-Polarized Noble Gase
s in the Lungs
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