ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Division Spotlight
Nuclear Installations Safety
Devoted specifically to the safety of nuclear installations and the health and safety of the public, this division seeks a better understanding of the role of safety in the design, construction and operation of nuclear installation facilities. The division also promotes engineering and scientific technology advancement associated with the safety of such facilities.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Jan 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
How to talk about nuclear
In your career as a professional in the nuclear community, chances are you will, at some point, be asked (or volunteer) to talk to at least one layperson about the technology you know and love. You might even be asked to present to a whole group of nonnuclear folks, perhaps as a pitch to some company tangential to your company’s business. So, without further ado, let me give you some pointers on the best way to approach this important and surprisingly complicated task.
A. Leonard
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 32 | Number 3 | June 1968 | Pages 342-349
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE68-A20216
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A transport calculation of the lattice diffusion length, yielding the “gross” decay of the asymptotic flux in a lattice, is made using the method of K. M. Case. Refinements over the diffusion calculation are shown to be 1) slight adjustments in the slab widths due to boundary effects, and 2) the appearance of exact homogeneous diffusion lengths as calculated by transport theory. The extension to “asymptotic” time-dependent problems is also given. For the neutron-wave problem, the complex-valued diffusion length is derived as a function of frequency, and the relation between the time decay constant and the buckling is given for the pulsed-neutron problem. Limiting cases involving very wide slabs are discussed. Finally, some experiments are briefly described for which the analysis of this paper might be applicable.
