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
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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.
W. Pfeiffer, J. L. Shapiro
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 38 | Number 3 | December 1969 | Pages 253-264
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE69-A21159
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The utility of reflection and transmission function (or collectively, response function) concepts in reactor physics is investigated. A review of previous work is given, indicating the relation between the differential (invariant imbedding) and functional (adding) equations for the response functions. In addition, a numerical halving technique is developed from the adding relations. By combining the invariant imbedding and functional equations, an efficient calculational technique for albedo, shielding, and criticality problems in slab geometry is obtained. The feasibility of performing response function experiments to obtain cross section and criticality information is also examined. The envisioned experimental setup is described and calculations are carried out to verify the numerical procedures.