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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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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Apr 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
April 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
Technical Session|Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion
Friday, April 5, 2024|1:35–2:55PM EDT|Engineering Services Building Room 122
Session Chair:
Christopher T. Balbier (Penn State University)
Alternate Chair:
Jacob Maxeiner (Penn State University)
Session Organizer:
Jonathan B. Balog (Penn State University)
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Radiation Mapping of a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion System
1:35–1:55PM EDT
Joseph P. Rumbaugh (U.S. Military Academy), Alexander J. Lesko (U.S. Military Academy), Gabrielle I. Hall (U.S. Military Academy), Marissa A. Massey (U.S. Military Academy)
Paper
Mars and Beyond: Design of a Nuclear Space Propulsion System
1:55–2:15PM EDT
Lucas Diehl (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Ben A. Impson (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Anthony J. Hall (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.), Candler Langston (Virginia Commonwealth Univ.)
Lunar Power: Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator
2:15–2:35PM EDT
Logan J. Hiland (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ.), Joey Meboe (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ.), Gabriel Payan (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ.), Karl Heine (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ.)
Centrifugal Nuclear Thermal Rocket CFE Temperature Distribution Analysis using Ansys
2:35–2:55PM EDT
Drew C. Stuffick (Penn State), Zachary T. Herzog (Penn State), Saeed Alhosani (Penn State)
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