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Fusion Energy
This division promotes the development and timely introduction of fusion energy as a sustainable energy source with favorable economic, environmental, and safety attributes. The division cooperates with other organizations on common issues of multidisciplinary fusion science and technology, conducts professional meetings, and disseminates technical information in support of these goals. Members focus on the assessment and resolution of critical developmental issues for practical fusion energy applications.
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ANS Student Conference 2025
April 3–5, 2025
Albuquerque, NM|The University of New Mexico
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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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General Kenneth Nichols and the Manhattan Project
Nichols
The Oak Ridger has published the latest in a series of articles about General Kenneth D. Nichols, the Manhattan Project, and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. The series has been produced by Nichols’ grandniece Barbara Rogers Scollin and Oak Ridge (Tenn.) city historian David Ray Smith. Gen. Nichols (1907–2000) was the district engineer for the Manhattan Engineer District during the Manhattan Project.
As Smith and Scollin explain, Nichols “had supervision of the research and development connected with, and the design, construction, and operation of, all plants required to produce plutonium-239 and uranium-235, including the construction of the towns of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Richland, Washington. The responsibility of his position was massive as he oversaw a workforce of both military and civilian personnel of approximately 125,000; his Oak Ridge office became the center of the wartime atomic energy’s activities.”
Claudia Ahdida, Elzbieta Nowak, Christelle Saury, Heinz Vincke, Helmut Vincke
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 198 | Number 2 | February 2024 | Pages 175-184
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2023.2204183
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A comprehensive study of the radiological CNGS (CERN Neutrinos to Gran Sasso Experiment) environment characterization is presented. It comprises the evaluation of the residual dose rates of the most relevant standalone beam line equipment, such as the target and horn, as well as overall dose levels in the cavern before and after dismantling. Furthermore, the radionuclide inventories of the main objects to be dismantled were calculated by the Monte Carlo FLUKA code and ActiWiz. The latter is particularly important for transport and waste management. Moreover, we present benchmarking measurements of residual dose rates in the experimental cavern, staying in good agreement with simulation predictions. Additional measurements, as well as FLUKA and ActiWiz studies, allowed for assessing the concrete composition of the cavern’s walls and floor and the shielding blocks. The resulting refined composition allowed for evaluating more precisely the radionuclide inventories and residual dose rates expected before and after the dismantling in the CNGS target area. This was particularly important for the evaluation of the dismantling cost and the substantial savings due to the reusage of the majority of the concrete blocks. Finally, contamination measurements in the accessible parts of the area also are included. All the results discussed are crucial for determining the requirements, planning, and costs of the CNGS dismantling.