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Conference Spotlight
2026 Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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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Latest News
Seconds Matter: Rethinking Nuclear Facility Security for the Modern Threat Landscape
In today’s rapidly evolving threat environment, nuclear facilities must prioritize speed and precision in their security responses—because in critical moments, every second counts. An early warning system serves as a vital layer of defense, enabling real-time detection of potential intrusions or anomalies before they escalate into full-blown incidents. By providing immediate alerts and actionable intelligence, these systems empower security personnel to respond decisively, minimizing risk to infrastructure, personnel, and the public. The ability to anticipate and intercept threats at the earliest possible stage not only enhances operational resilience but also reinforces public trust in the safety of nuclear operations. Investing in such proactive technologies is no longer optional—it’s essential for modern nuclear security.
Ahmad Al-Rashdan, Troy Unruh, Mitchell A. Plummer, Pattrick Calderoni, Kurt Davis (INL)
Proceedings | Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technolgies (NPIC&HMIT 2019) | Orlando, FL, February 9-14, 2019 | Pages 1319-1323
Silicon carbide (SiC) monitors provide a means of measuring peak irradiation temperature of static capsules in nuclear irradiation experiments. Neutron irradiation of a SiC monitor causes permanent lattice changes that are removed by annealing to a temperature that exceeds the peak irradiation temperature. The annealing process results in changes to SiC physical characteristics that can be observed during the annealing process. This paper presents preliminary results of a method aimed at using electrical resistance, measured during a two-pass heating – cooling cycle as a means of recovering the irradiation temperature of a SiC monitor. Results indicate that the relationship between resistance and temperature of a SiC monitor shows a significant change in slope when the peak irradiation temperature is reached. This demonstrates the potential for this method to replace the current manual, and lengthy, process of post irradiation examination used to extract the peak irradiation temperature from irradiated SiC monitors.
