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Division Spotlight
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.
Meeting Spotlight
ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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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Penn State and Westinghouse make eVinci microreactor plan official
Penn State and Westinghouse Electric Company are working together to site a new research reactor on Penn State’s University Park, Pa., campus: Westinghouse’s eVinci, a HALEU TRISO-fueled sodium heat-pipe reactor. Penn State has announced that it submitted a letter of intent to host and operate an eVinci reactor to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on February 28 and plans to engage with the NRC on specific siting decisions. Penn State already boasts the Breazeale reactor, which began operating in 1955 as the first licensed research reactor at a university in the United States. At 70, the Breazeale reactor is still in operation.
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.