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
Deep Space: The new frontier of radiation controls
In commercial nuclear power, there has always been a deliberate tension between the regulator and the utility owner. The regulator fundamentally exists to protect the worker, and the utility, to make a profit. It is a win-win balance.
From the U.S. nuclear industry has emerged a brilliantly successful occupational nuclear safety record—largely the result of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process that has driven exposure rates down to what only a decade ago would have been considered unthinkable. In the U.S. nuclear industry, the system has accomplished an excellent, nearly seamless process that succeeds to the benefit of both employee and utility owner.
Jeffery F. Latkowski
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 34 | Number 3 | November 1998 | Pages 767-771
National Ignition Facility-Target Area | doi.org/10.13182/FST98-A11963706
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
During routine operations, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) will attain fusion yields as high as 1200 MJ/yr with individual experiments reaching 20 MJ. Neutron activation of components within the NIF Target Bay will result in occupational doses that must be understood and limited to ≤ 10 person-rem/yr. Previous work has shown that the final optics assemblies (FOAs) are the key to worker doses. The present work gives results for three-dimensional analyses including dose rates and worker doses. Results for modified FOA designs are also presented. Finally, a concept for a polyethylene shielding plug is discussed and shown to substantially reduce occupational doses.
