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 Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2025
Jul 2024
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
March 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
February 2025
Latest News
NEA panel on AI hosted at World Governments Summit
A panel on the potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate small modular reactors was held at the World Governments Summit (WGS) in February in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency cohosted the event, which attracted leaders from developers, IT companies, regulators, and other experts.
W. P. Poenitz, L. R. Fawcett, Jr., D. L. Smith
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 78 | Number 3 | July 1981 | Pages 239-247
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE81-1
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The capture cross section of 238U was measured using the activation technique and 235U(n, f) and 197Au(n, γ) as reference cross sections. Capture events were measured by detection of two prominent gamma-ray transitions in the decay of the 239U daughter nuclide, 239Np, employing a high-resolution Ge(Li) detector. The system was calibrated with the absolutely calibrated alpha-particle emitter, 243Am, which decays to 239Np. Cross-section measurements were carried out at thermal neutron energy and in the neutron energy range from 30 keV to 3 MeV. Emphasis in the higher keV range was on absolute values between 0.14 keV and 1 MeV where the 238U(n, γ) cross section and its ratio to 235U(n, f) are not very sensitive to energy scale uncertainties, and the 238U(n, f) cross section is small. Background from fission products was found to restrict the accuracy of the measured data at energies 1.5 MeV.
