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Division Spotlight
Nuclear Criticality Safety
NCSD provides communication among nuclear criticality safety professionals through the development of standards, the evolution of training methods and materials, the presentation of technical data and procedures, and the creation of specialty publications. In these ways, the division furthers the exchange of technical information on nuclear criticality safety with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe handling of fissionable materials outside reactors.
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
Is waste really waste?
Tim Tinsley
I’ve been reflecting on the recent American Nuclear Society Winter Conference and Expo, where I enjoyed the discussion on recycling used nuclear fuel to recover valuable minerals or products for future applications. I have spent more than 30 years focusing on dissolving and separating nuclear material, so it was refreshing to hear the case for new applications being made. However, I feel that these discussions could go further still.
Radiation is energy, something that our society seems to have an endless need for. A nuclear power station produces a lot of radiation that is mostly discarded. But once fuel has been used, it still produces significant levels of radiation and heat energy. The associated storage, processing, and eventual disposal of this used fuel requires careful management and investment to protect systems and people from the radiation. Should we really disregard—and discard—this energy source, along with all the valuable minerals in the used fuel, when we could instead use it to deliver significant value to society?
Sara A. Pozzi, Brian Wieger, Andreas Enqvist, Shaun D. Clarke, Marek Flaska, Matthew Marcath, Edward Larsen, Robert C. Haight, Enrico Padovani
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 178 | Number 2 | October 2014 | Pages 250-260
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE13-96
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper presents new experimental results of correlated, prompt neutron emission from the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. Specifically, we present correlated-neutron emission probabilities and average energies for two detected neutrons as a function of the angle between the two neutrons. Experimental results are compared to several Monte Carlo models that include the number, energy, and angular distributions of prompt neutrons from fission.