ANS is committed to advancing, fostering, and promoting the development and application of nuclear sciences and technologies to benefit society.
Explore the many uses for nuclear science and its impact on energy, the environment, healthcare, food, and more.
Explore membership for yourself or for your organization.
Conference Spotlight
2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Dec 2025
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
January 2026
Nuclear Technology
December 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
November 2025
Latest News
Seconds Matter: Rethinking Nuclear Facility Security for the Modern Threat Landscape
In today’s rapidly evolving threat environment, nuclear facilities must prioritize speed and precision in their security responses—because in critical moments, every second counts. An early warning system serves as a vital layer of defense, enabling real-time detection of potential intrusions or anomalies before they escalate into full-blown incidents. By providing immediate alerts and actionable intelligence, these systems empower security personnel to respond decisively, minimizing risk to infrastructure, personnel, and the public. The ability to anticipate and intercept threats at the earliest possible stage not only enhances operational resilience but also reinforces public trust in the safety of nuclear operations. Investing in such proactive technologies is no longer optional—it’s essential for modern nuclear security.
Hyung Jin Shim, Chang Hyo Kim
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 157 | Number 2 | October 2007 | Pages 132-141
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE06-33
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Two new stopping criteria designed to terminate automatically inactive cycle runs in Monte Carlo (MC) neutronics eigenvalue calculations are derived in terms of the covariance matrix of stochastic error components inherent in the stationary fission source distribution (FSD) from each stationary MC cycle run. A practical way to determine the covariance matrix using nonstationary FSD in the course of inactive cycle MC runs is presented. The effectiveness of the new stopping criteria including the way to calculate the covariance matrix is examined through continuous energy MC neutronics calculations for ten pressurized water reactor test problems with varying dominance ratios. It is shown that the empiricism-free new stopping criteria stop inactive cycle MC runs effectively and that FSDs from the termination of inactive MC runs are stationary consistent with the available posterior source convergence diagnosis.