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
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Apr 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
May 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
DTRA’s advancements in nuclear and radiological detection
A new, more complex nuclear age has begun. Echoing the tensions of the Cold War amid rapidly evolving nuclear and radiological threats, preparedness in the modern age is a contest of scientific innovation. The Research and Development Directorate (RD) at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is charged with winning this contest.
MARK NELKIN
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 2 | Number 3 | May 1957 | Pages 373-381
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE57-A25402
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The thermal spectrum of a beryllium-moderated intermediate assembly is calculated in the approximation of a heavy crystalline moderator. The results are compared to experiment, and the qualitative agreement is found to be good. In the particular case calculated, the temperature dependence of the spectrum is so weak that a straightforward Fermi age calculation is also in good qualitative agreement. The most important uncertainties in the calculation are due to the heterogeneous distribution of neutron absorbing material, and the use of the heavy mass approximation in the presence of strong absorption.