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Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy
The mission of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Policy Division (NNPD) is to promote the peaceful use of nuclear technology while simultaneously preventing the diversion and misuse of nuclear material and technology through appropriate safeguards and security, and promotion of nuclear nonproliferation policies. To achieve this mission, the objectives of the NNPD are to: Promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities. Provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues. Become a recognized technical resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues. Serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS. Work cooperatively with other ANS divisions to achieve these objective nonproliferation policies.
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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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Norway’s Halden reactor takes first step toward decommissioning
The government of Norway has granted the transfer of the Halden research reactor from the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) to the state agency Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND). The 25-MWt Halden boiling water reactor operated from 1958 to 2018 and was used in the research of nuclear fuel, reactor internals, plant procedures and monitoring, and human factors.
Chenhao Zeng, Wanchang Lai, Jinge Zhou, Hongjian Lin, Xiaojie Feng, Yongping Yu, Runqiu Gu, Shangqing Sun, Jinfei Wu
Nuclear Technology | Volume 209 | Number 4 | April 2023 | Pages 549-559
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2022.2133515
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We address the performance of airborne gamma detection systems equipped with a NaI(Tl) detector to monitor radionuclides in specific areas. In particular, we analyze the use of the fast singular value decomposition (FSVD) algorithm to improve the nuclide recognition ability of the system and effectively trace radioactivity in a complex background environment. We first present a theoretical analysis of the FSVD algorithm and illustrate the nuclide recognition algorithm step by step. The core of the algorithm is singular value decomposition and parameter estimation based on a Gaussian Markov linear regression model. From the estimated values of the parameters, information about radionuclides can be effectively extracted. We assume the presence of a strong background due to a high concentration of 222Rn and its progeny, which is simulated using GEANT4. By adding trace elements of 131I and 137Cs and changing the relative emissivity, the ratio of the total energy peak count of 131I and 137Cs to the background environment interval count of the corresponding 222Rn and its progeny are controlled. Assuming a counting ratio equal to 0.005, the FSVD algorithm is still able to effectively discriminate the presence of a small number of nuclides, reflecting very excellent recognition ability. Finally, based on data from an airborne gamma detection system in a self-control radon chamber, the FSVD algorithm is employed to recognize the trace of 137Cs nuclides in a strong radon background. A DURRIDGE RAD7 radon measuring instrument is used to monitor the radon concentration in the radon chamber. The actual measurement results show that the FSVD algorithm can effectively detect 137Cs nuclides.