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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Inkjet droplets of radioactive material enable quick, precise testing at NIST
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a technique called cryogenic decay energy spectrometry capable of detecting single radioactive decay events from tiny material samples and simultaneously identifying the atoms involved. In time, the technology could replace characterization tasks that have taken months and could support rapid, accurate radiopharmaceutical development and used nuclear fuel recycling, according to an article published on July 8 by NIST.
Bruce A. Pregger, Charles S. Olsen
Nuclear Technology | Volume 87 | Number 4 | December 1989 | Pages 875-883
Technical Paper | TMI-2: Decontamination and Waste Management / Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT89-A27681
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A scanning electron microscope is used to investigate techniques for performing microanalysis of highly radioactive material from the Three Mile Island Unit 2 reactor. Wavelength dispersive X-ray (WDX) spectrometer methods allow quantitative analysis of metallic and oxide phases in samples with radiation fields of up to 60 R/h (contact β-γ). It is found that sputtered gold provides an unexpectedly useful specimen coating for remote analysis, being easily applied and forming more uniform layers than evaporated carbon, and proving compatible with quantitative point analysis. Through a combination of electron imaging, shielded energy dispersive spectrometry, WDX dot mapping, and quantitative WDX point analysis, it is possible to obtain data on core metal oxidation, trace concentration fission product distribution, and phase composition for core temperature estimation.
