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
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
J. D. Simpson, J. K. Hoffer, L. R. Foreman
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 21 | Number 2 | March 1992 | Pages 330-333
Safety; Measurement and Accountability; Operation and Maintenance; Application | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A29766
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We have examined two of the variables that affect the beta-layering process in which nonuniform layers of solid deuterium-tritium (DT) are driven toward uniformity by beta-decay induced sublimation. For these experiments, a 9 mm diameter polycarbonate sphere was partially filled with a 50-50 mix of DT liquid, frozen, and then held at 17 K. We measured the equilibration time constant τ as functions of solid layer thickness, 4He exchange gas pressure, and age. Solid layer thicknesses ranged from 200 µm to 650 µm, exchange gas pressures from 0 to 600 torr, and age from 0 to 104 days. Results show a significant final solid layer anisotropy with exchange gas pressures above 5 torr, and τ values that increased with age by 0.01 min/day for 200 µm-thick layers, and by 0.5 min/day for 650 µm-thick layers. The time constant is shown to be a weak function of exchange gas pressure.