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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.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
First astatine-labeled compound shipped in the U.S.
The Department of Energy’s National Isotope Development Center (NIDC) on March 31 announced the successful long-distance shipment in the United States of a biologically active compound labeled with the medical radioisotope astatine-211 (At-211). Because previous shipments have included only the “bare” isotope, the NIDC has described the development as “unleashing medical innovation.”
Isao Murata, Shingo Tamaki, Sachie Kusaka, Indah Rosidah Maemunah, Fuminobu Sato, Hiroyuki Miyamaru, Shigeo Yoshida
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 79 | Number 4 | May 2023 | Pages 465-475
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2022.2151280
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A fusion reactor is known as a neutron-rich nuclear energy source. In this paper, neutrons are utilized to form an epithermal neutron irradiation field for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Using the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility, a beam shaping assembly (BSA) was designed and placed just before the biological shield. Treatments were planned to be carried out just outside the biological shield. An opening was prepared in the vacuum vessel to guide deuteron-triton neutrons to the BSA. The BSA is about 1 m in thickness, and on the outside surface of the BSA, an epithermal neutron flux of 1 × 109 n/s‧cm−2 was aimed. As a result of the design, the irradiation field successfully met the design criteria of the BSA advocated by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The BSA moderator consists of a first filter of 45-cm-thick iron and a second filter of 70-cm-radius and 40-cm-thick AlF3. The epithermal neutron beam was available for diameters from 10 to 20 cm to cope with various sizes of tumors. Also, a titanium layer was specially introduced to remove fast neutrons just above 10 keV to reduce the fast neutron contribution. In addition, a caldera-shaped collimator was set just outside of the BSA to form a broad beam and to make the current-to-flux ratio larger than 0.7. It was shown from the present design that the performance was confirmed to be excellent compared to other BNCT facilities available at present, meaning that even deep-seated cancer treatment could be realized in the future in ITER.