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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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Deep Space: The new frontier of radiation controls
In commercial nuclear power, there has always been a deliberate tension between the regulator and the utility owner. The regulator fundamentally exists to protect the worker, and the utility, to make a profit. It is a win-win balance.
From the U.S. nuclear industry has emerged a brilliantly successful occupational nuclear safety record—largely the result of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process that has driven exposure rates down to what only a decade ago would have been considered unthinkable. In the U.S. nuclear industry, the system has accomplished an excellent, nearly seamless process that succeeds to the benefit of both employee and utility owner.
William W. Wadman III
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 35 | Number 2 | February 1969 | Pages 220-226
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE69-A21137
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The angular distribution, yield, spectra, and attenuation of fast neutrons from the alpha-particle bombardment of a thick elemental tantalum target have been measured. Data obtained by using threshold energy detectors and thermal-neutron detectors were reduced to neutron spectra with the computer program FLUXPOS. Thermal-neutron activation foils were placed in the shielding at 6-in. intervals to determine the neutron attenuation profiles at 0, 75, and 90° from the target. Data show that the neutron spectral slope becomes steeper and the relaxation length (1/e attenuation thickness) decreases with increasing angle.