This question targets the complexities introduced by 5f electrons in electron and phonon dispersion and scattering. This foundational work is necessary to fully consider the more complex problem of transport in the presence of mesoscale defect structures.
This question considers the self-organization mechanisms of prominent non-ordered and ordered structures found in off-stoichiometric oxide fuel, loops and void structures in ion-irradiated oxide and metallic fuel, and grain boundaries in high-burnup structures, as well as the impact of these defect structures on electron and phonon scattering.
This question addresses the collective impacts of electron and phonon scattering by defects on thermal transport on mesoscopic length scales. Validation of model predictions, obtained using the Boltzmann transport formalism, will come from nanometer- and micrometer-scale thermal transport measurements and from in-reactor measurements of thermal conductivity.