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
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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
Jul 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
August 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Magdi M. H. Ragheb, Said I. Abdel-Khalik, Mahmoud Youssef, Charles W. Maynard
Nuclear Technology | Volume 45 | Number 2 | September 1979 | Pages 140-152
Technical Paper | Reactor | doi.org/10.13182/NT79-A32304
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Three-dimensional neutronics models of the SOLASE-H fusion-fission reactor have been analyzed by Monte Carlo. In this design, light water reactor (LWR) fertile ThO2 fuel bundles are enriched in the fissile isotope 233U and then shipped for burning in the LWRs. A concept where the fertile fuel bundles constitute a lattice configuration with the moderator-multiplier material is investigated. Parametric lattice calculations as a function of the neutron moderator-multiplier to fuel volume ratio (vm/vf) in the lattice show that it is possible in such a concept to enhance the fissile nuclei production density in the fertile fuel, compared to cases where a lattice configuration is not used. This leads to shorter times to attain projected average fissile enrichments, using substantially smaller fuel inventories. Surrounding the whole reactor cavity with the neutron multiplier is found to enhance the fissile breeding in the radial blanket. Severe asymmetries in the spatial distribution of the fissile enrichment are detected and suggest the necessity of elaborate fuel irradiation and management programs in the case of a laser-driven system. The concept of a lattice configuration and the use of the whole solid angle surrounding the fusion source for neutron multiplication are recommended for adoption in future magnetic and inertial confinement fusion-fission hybrid reactor designs.
