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Division Spotlight
Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
January 2025
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Latest News
Reboot: Nuclear needs a success . . . anywhere
The media have gleefully resurrected the language of a past nuclear renaissance. Beyond the hype and PR, many people in the nuclear community are taking a more measured view of conditions that could lead to new construction: data center demand, the proliferation of new reactor designs and start-ups, and the sudden ascendance of nuclear energy as the power source everyone wants—or wants to talk about.
Once built, large nuclear reactors can provide clean power for at least 80 years—outlasting 10 to 20 presidential administrations. Smaller reactors can provide heat and power outputs tailored to an end user’s needs. With all the new attention, are we any closer to getting past persistent supply chain and workforce issues and building these new plants? And what will the election of Donald Trump to a second term as president mean for nuclear?
As usual, there are more questions than answers, and most come down to money. Several developers are engaging with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or have already applied for a license, certification, or permit. But designs without paying customers won’t get built. So where are the customers, and what will it take for them to commit?
T. R. Herold
Nuclear Technology | Volume 14 | Number 3 | June 1972 | Pages 269-278
Technical Paper | Radioisotope | doi.org/10.13182/NT72-A31116
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A new electronic method has been developed that requires about 10 min to assay 252Cf sources between 1 μg and 50 mg. The assay is made by placing the 252Cf source in the center of a polyethylene moderator and measuring the resulting thermalized neutrons with fission counters in the moderator. All measurements are referenced to a 252Cf calibrated with a manganese sulfate bath by the National Bureau of Standards. Sources smaller than 1 μg and larger than 50 mg could be similarly assayed with appropriate modifications to the moderator. The new method is routinely compared with the manganese bath method to determine the precision and sensitivity of the measurements so that the new method can be used as a secondary standard. Measurements of 252Cf content agree with manganese sulfate bath determinations to within ±0.6%. The present design is tailored for a fission neutron spectrum but could be used with proper calibration in assaying between 106 and 1011 n/sec from sources having different spectra.
