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Conference Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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.
M. Dion, G. Marleau
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 183 | Number 2 | June 2016 | Pages 261-274
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE15-60
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The sensitivity coefficients of self-shielded cross sections to isotopic densities are computed for a subgroup resonance self-shielding model. The method we propose is based on the derivatives of the collision probabilities used in the slowing-down equation. In this work, we look at how the sensitivities vary as a function of the position inside a fuel pin or of the position of a fuel pin within an assembly. Moreover, we evaluate the importance of the superhomogenization factors, used to correct self-shielded cross sections for the subgroup method, on the cross-section sensitivities. We also present a comparison with the Monte Carlo code Serpent where the sensitivity coefficients are approximated using a finite difference method.