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Conference Spotlight
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.
L. Finkelstein, M. Shatz
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 42 | Number 3 | December 1970 | Pages 260-266
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE70-A21215
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A class of resonant absorbing cross sections was found for which there are simple exact solutions of the neutron moderation equation. Some of these solutions are compared with corresponding numerical solutions obtained by the methods of Rowlands, Nordheim, and Finkelstein. The first two methods are accurate for narrow and intermediate absorption resonances but develop instability when relatively strong (with respect to scattering) absorption extends for a few or more collision intervals. Then only the third method may be used with confidence.