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.
J. Sanz, M. Garcia, F. Ogando, A. Mayoral, D. López, P. Sauvan, B. Brañas
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 56 | Number 1 | July 2009 | Pages 273-280
Fusion Materials | Eighteenth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Part 1) | doi.org/10.13182/FST09-A8914
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A preliminary beam dump cartridge design has been proposed recently for the IFMIF-EVEDA accelerator. Copper was the material chosen for the beam stop. In this paper we investigate the possibility of designing a practical shielding for the proposed cartridge so that it can offer an acceptable radioprotection response during both beam-on and beam-off phases. The radioprotection analysis is performed for the whole beam dump component located inside the already designed accelerator vault. A comprehensive methodology has been proposed to deal with the problem. Special attention has been paid to the treatment of the neutron source and a significant effort has been devoted to validation purposes. It is justified that prompt and residual dose rates can be provided with a reasonably conservative margin.A base line shielding consisting of a 1 m water tank and a concrete shield of 1 m thickness in front of the tank can be a good approach to fulfill the radioprotection requirement assigned to the beam-on phase. This approach will not be acceptable for the beam-off but it is seen that a feasible solution can be reached by adding a plug at the entrance of the beam dump.