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
Feb 2026
Jul 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2026
Nuclear Technology
January 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Playing the “bad guy” to enhance next-generation safety
Sometimes, cops and robbers is more than just a kid’s game. At the Department of Energy’s national laboratories, researchers are channeling their inner saboteurs to discover vulnerabilities in next-generation nuclear reactors, making sure that they’re as safe as possible before they’re even constructed.
A. Jelea, F. Marinelli, Y. Ferro, A. Allouche, C. Brosset
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 50 | Number 1 | July 2006 | Pages 33-42
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/FST06-A1218
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Quantum molecular dynamics calculations at constant temperature have been carried out in order to study the interaction between atomic oxygen and a hydrogen saturated graphite surface. It has been shown that atomic oxygen reacts at 300 K with the adsorbed hydrogen atoms to form hydroxyl radicals and water molecules. Part of these residue radicals adsorbs on the graphite forming hydroxylated structures. A study on the stability of these structures has shown that OH radical desorption begins at 500 K and formation of water molecules occurs by reaction between a desorbed hydroxyl radical and a hydrogen atom extracted from a neighboring adsorbed hydroxyl. The water molecules only very slightly interact with the graphite surface and are ejected into the gas phase.