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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
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
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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Apr 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
TerraPower begins U.K. regulatory approval process
Seattle-based TerraPower signaled its interest this week in building its Natrium small modular reactor in the United Kingdom, the company announced.
TerraPower sent a letter to the U.K.’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, formally establishing its intention to enter the U.K. generic design assessment (GDA) process. This is TerraPower’s first step in deployment of its Natrium technology—a 345-MW sodium fast reactor coupled with a molten salt energy storage unit—on the international stage.
B. R. Leonard, Jr.,
Nuclear Technology | Volume 20 | Number 3 | December 1973 | Pages 161-178
Technical Paper | Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT73-1
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The 14-MeV neutrons from a controlled DT fusion plasma can potentially be used to produce neutron source multiplication and energy multiplication through fission in a heavy-element blanket surrounding the fusion plasma. Concepts which involve the use of fusion-produced neutrons to ultimately produce fission are generically classed as fusion-fission hybrids. The conceptual purposes of hybrids can be many and varied: to relax the fusion plasma confinement conditions to allow further development of fusion power; to breed fissile material for fission reactors; as a subcritical fission lattice which is more energetic than the pure fusion concept; and the ultimate reduction of radioactive heavy element waste to fission product. The concept of a hybrid is based on an analysis of the neutronic behavior of the blanket. The status of studies of the neutronics analyses of proposed hybrids has been reviewed. These results have been used to determine the need for further development of hybrid technology.