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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
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
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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Latest News
Three nations, three ways to recycle plastic waste with nuclear technology
Plastic waste pollutes oceans, streams, and bloodstreams. Nations in Asia and the Pacific are working with the International Atomic Energy Agency through the Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (NUTEC Plastics) initiative to tackle the problem. Launched in 2020, NUTEC Plastics is focused on using nuclear technology to both track the flow of microplastics and improve upstream plastic recycling before discarded plastic can enter the ecosystem. Irradiation could target hard-to-recycle plastics and the development of bio-based plastics, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic products and building a “circular economy” for plastics, according to the IAEA.
Gad Shani
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 65 | Number 1 | January 1978 | Pages 183-187
Technical Note | doi.org/10.13182/NSE78-A27142
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The hybrid fusion reactor is becoming an interesting and promising model. In the present Note, a method for controlling the breeding-fission ratio is investigated. Since 238U fission occurs mainly with fast neutrons and breeding occurs with intermediate and slow neutrons, an optimal ratio can be obtained by partial slowing down of the original 14.9-MeV neutrons. This is done using iron as the moderator. Uranium samples were irradiated with 14.9-MeV neutrons from a deuterium-tritium reaction with iron layers of various thicknesses between the samples and the neutron source. It was found that with a relatively thin layer of iron (12 cm), any breeding-fission ratio can be obtained within a range of two decades. The breeding rate changes by only 50% when the iron-slab thickness changes from 0 to 12 cm, while the fission rate follows (more or less) the 14-MeV neutron flux and drops by more than two decades. Good agreement was obtained between the measurement and the calculated results.