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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
G. R. Dalton, R. K. Osborn
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 20 | Number 4 | December 1964 | Pages 481-492
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE64-A20991
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An integral form of the one-speed neutron-transport equation is applied to the case of a neutron-detecting foil placed in a homogeneous medium with an initially non-isotropic neutron population. A series of numerical calculations have been carried out to investigate the effect on the self-shielding flux-depression factor of anisotropy in the initial undisturbed flux. The case of a square foil of gold placed in a light-water medium is investigated. It is found that the existence of anisotropy in the initial flux leaves the flux correction factor essentially unchanged. However, the presence of anisotropy implies spatial non-uniformity of the scalar flux. Thus, movement of the center of mass of a foil in a flux which has a gradient, or rotation of a foil in a flux which has a second derivative can alter the undisturbed flux and the disturbed flux to which a foil is exposed, though the flux correction factor remains unchanged.