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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 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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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. M. Reynolds, S. M. Sperling, W. E. Selph
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 42 | Number 3 | December 1970 | Pages 324-334
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE70-A21221
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
High resolution measurements have been made of the gamma-ray spectrum produced in liquid nitrogen by a 14-MeV neutron source. The spectra of gamma rays from neutron inelastic scattering were measured to a distance of six feet by pulsing the source. Comparison of the inelastic photon flux with discrete ordinates calculations using ENDF/B neutron cross sections and recent gamma-ray production cross sections shows good agreement for the strong well-resolved lines. The results of unfolding the continuum part of the spectrum reveal a flux of high energy lines that is a sizable fraction of the total flux of resolved lines. These normally unresolved gamma rays account for part of the gap in the nitrogen nonelastic cross section.
