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Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
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2024 ANS Winter Conference and Expo
November 17–21, 2024
Orlando, FL|Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld
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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New laws offer nuclear industry incentives for existing power plant uprates
This year, the U.S. nuclear industry received a much-needed economic boost that could help preserve operating nuclear power plants and incentivize upgrades that extend their lifespan and power output.
Signed into law in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act offers production tax credits (PTCs) for existing nuclear power plants and either PTCs or investment tax credits (ITCs) for new carbon-free generation. These credits could make power uprates—increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial plant may operate—a much more appealing option for utilities.
D. C. Larson, G. L. Morgan
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 75 | Number 2 | August 1980 | Pages 151-158
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE80-A21304
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Differential cross sections for neutron-induced gamma-ray production from sodium have been measured for incident-neutron energies between 0.2 and 20.0 MeV. Gamma rays with energies 0.35 ≤ Eγ ≤ 10.6 MeV were detected with a sodium iodide spectrometer at 125 deg. The data presented are the double-differential cross section, d2σ/dΩdE, for coarse intervals in incident-neutron energy. The measured results are compared with existing data, with calculations based on multistep Hauser-Feshbach theory, and with a benchmark gamma-ray production measurement performed at the Oak Ridge Tower Shielding Facility (TSF). Average agreement between our measured results and model calculations is within 15%. The cross sections measured at the TSF are typically 30% larger than our results, except for gamma-ray energies between 1.1 and 1.5 MeV where the TSF benchmark predicts a yield 20 times greater than we observe. Results of the present measurement have been incorporated for the gamma-ray production in the Evaluated Nuclear Data File.