Ep 110: Lou Qualls, Oak Ridge National Labs

In this episode we discuss...

• Lou's background in fusion and personal journey in the nuclear space
• Lou's work as the national technical director for molten salt reactors
• Stellarator versus tokamak plasmas
• The important roles of neutral beams and pellets
• Challenges in nuclear fission
• Uses of hydro reactors in scientific testing
• A deep dive into Project Prometheus and space power initiatives
• The resurgence of interest in molten salt reactors
• The Advanced Reactor Technology program within the U.S. Department of Energy
• Common challenges among developers and ways in which we can overcome them
• Interactions of fission products with salt
• Designing for contingency versus replacement