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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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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May 2025
Jan 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
June 2025
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
High-temperature plumbing and advanced reactors
The use of nuclear fission power and its role in impacting climate change is hotly debated. Fission advocates argue that short-term solutions would involve the rapid deployment of Gen III+ nuclear reactors, like Vogtle-3 and -4, while long-term climate change impact would rely on the creation and implementation of Gen IV reactors, “inherently safe” reactors that use passive laws of physics and chemistry rather than active controls such as valves and pumps to operate safely. While Gen IV reactors vary in many ways, one thing unites nearly all of them: the use of exotic, high-temperature coolants. These fluids, like molten salts and liquid metals, can enable reactor engineers to design much safer nuclear reactors—ultimately because the boiling point of each fluid is extremely high. Fluids that remain liquid over large temperature ranges can provide good heat transfer through many demanding conditions, all with minimal pressurization. Although the most apparent use for these fluids is advanced fission power, they have the potential to be applied to other power generation sources such as fusion, thermal storage, solar, or high-temperature process heat.1–3
May 15–20, 2022
Making Virtual a Reality: Advancements in Reactor Physics to Leap Forward Reactor Operation and Deployment
Pittsburgh, PA|Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel
Gateway Clipper Event
On behalf of American Nuclear Society Pittsburgh Section, Exelon Nuclear Generation and Westinghouse Electric Company, thank you for joining us for the 2022 International Conference on Physics of Reactors (PHYSOR) conference!
The conference will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on May 15-20, 2022. PHYSOR attracts international experts from all segments of the nuclear industry and scientific community, including vendors, utilities, laboratories, and universities. The theme for this year’s conference is Making Virtual a Reality: Advancements in Reactor Physics to Leap Forward Reactor Operation and Deployment.
As the nuclear industry continues to drive operational and economic performance improvements in current LWRs, and development and deployment of micro-reactors, small modular reactors and advanced reactors, continued innovation in reactor physics methodologies across a broad spectrum of topics is required. We have organized PHYSOR 2022 to cover a broad range of topics in thirty standard and special sessions tracks, and ten panel sessions. The conference also has ten half-day and full-day workshops planned (see Call for Papers).
Since the first PHYSOR conference in 1990, the conference has focused on reactor physics advancements and provided a platform showcase for pioneering concepts, methods, and products. As we leap forward to the future of nuclear technology, micro reactors, small modular reactors, advanced reactors, and high energy LWR fuel are at the forefront.
We look forward to joining together to celebrate reactor physics with the nuclear community in 2022!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey L. BradfuteVice President, Americas Fuel Delivery Westinghouse Electric Company
Scot GreenleeSenior Vice President, Engineering & Technical Support Exelon Nuclear Generation
Jeffrey L. Bradfute
Scot Greenlee
PHYSOR 2022 and ANS Pittsburgh Section are committed to encouraging underrepresented persons to enter and flourish in the field of nuclear reactor physics. In fulfilling this commitment, we are supporting student grants for the PHYSOR 2022 Conference, May 15-20 (Pittsburg, PA). More Information
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Dear PHYSOR 2022 Authors,
**Deadline extended! Submit by September 20, 2022.
PHYSOR 2022 has partnered with Nuclear Science and Engineering (NSE) to publish a special issue of papers derived from the conference. You are invited to submit your work for consideration in the issue. If interested, please contact the conference Technical Program Chair Vefa Kucukboyaci and/or submit directly into NSE’s peer review system. **New deadline: September 20, 2022.
Details:
Submission instructions:
I also welcome any questions to me directly at frahnema@outlook.com. We are looking forward to your submission.
My very best,
Dr. Farzad Rahnema
Nuclear Science and Engineering Editor-in-Chief
https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/unse20
PHYSOR 2022 Copyright Form