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2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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The progress so far: An update on the Reactor Pilot Program
It has been about three months since the Department of Energy named 10 companies for its new Reactor Pilot Program, which maps out how the DOE would meet the goal announced by executive order in May of having three reactors achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.
MARK NELKIN
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 2 | Number 3 | May 1957 | Pages 373-381
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE57-A25402
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The thermal spectrum of a beryllium-moderated intermediate assembly is calculated in the approximation of a heavy crystalline moderator. The results are compared to experiment, and the qualitative agreement is found to be good. In the particular case calculated, the temperature dependence of the spectrum is so weak that a straightforward Fermi age calculation is also in good qualitative agreement. The most important uncertainties in the calculation are due to the heterogeneous distribution of neutron absorbing material, and the use of the heavy mass approximation in the presence of strong absorption.