Presented by: Dr. Alfredo Caro
When
This presentation will be held in Harshbarger room 206
Friday, November 14, 2025 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (Arizona)
Abstract:
In this talk, Dr. Caro will present the current status of both fusion and fission nuclear energy, highlighting their respective technological trajectories and the critical challenges they face. Particular emphasis will be placed on the materials perspective, which underpins the performance, safety, and longevity of nuclear systems. The extreme conditions of radiation, temperature, and corrosion characteristics of these environments impose formidable demands on structural and functional materials. Understanding and mitigating radiation mage, phase instability, and chemical degradation are central to advancing both fission and fusion technologies. I will discuss recent progress in these areas, emerging materials solutions, and the scientific strategies guiding the development of next-generation nuclear energy systems.
Bio:
Dr. Alfredo Caro is a physicist who graduated from Instituto Balserio in Bariloche, Argentina (1976), with a PhD from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland (1981). He worked at the Atomic Center in Bariloche, Argentina (1983-1987 / 1993-2003), being Director of the Center and Director of Instituto Balserio (1993-1995), at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, for the European Fusion Program (1987-1993), at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, for the National Ignition Facility (2003-2010), at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, as leader of the Science of Nuclear Materials and Fuels Team within the division of Materials Science and Technology (2010-2015). From 2015 to 2017 he was Program Director at the National Science Foundation, responsible for the Materials Science and Engineering Centers, MRSEC, and the Partnership for Research and Education in Materials, PREM, programs. At present he is Research Professor at George Washington University. He is author of 200+ scientific publications, mostly on nuclear and nano materials.