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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.
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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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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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Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Take steps on SNF and HLW disposal
Matt Bowen
With a new administration and Congress, it is time once again to ponder what will happen—if anything—on U.S. spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste management policy over the next few years. One element of the forthcoming discussion seems clear: The executive and legislative branches are eager to talk about recycling commercial SNF. Whatever the merits of doing so, it does not obviate the need for one or more facilities for disposal of remaining long-lived radionuclides. For that reason, making progress on U.S. disposal capabilities remains urgent, lest the associated radionuclide inventories simply be left for future generations to deal with.
In March, Rick Perry, who was secretary of energy during President Trump’s first administration, observed that during his tenure at the Department of Energy it became clear to him that any plan to move SNF “required some practical consent of the receiving state and local community.”1
A C Bell, C Caldwell-Nichols, B Patel, L Serio
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 28 | Number 3 | October 1995 | Pages 821-826
Tritium Safety | Proceedings of the Fifth Topical Meeting on Tritium Technology in Fission, Fusion, and Isotopic Applications Belgirate, Italy May 28-June 3, 1995 | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A30506
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
JET progressively established elements of an environmental monitoring programme well in advance of tritium operation in order to determine baseline levels. Prior to the first JET tritium experiment (PTE) in 1991, an extensive programme was in place and agreed with the regulatory authority. This consisted of tritium in air, rain, ground and river water, and crops on and off the JET site. Air is sampled continuously and averaged monthly. Other samples are taken quarterly or, at an appropriate point in the growing season. The discharges of tritium from the JET stacks are monitored by on-line instrumentation and silica gel-based samplers. The performance of these is described and improvements arising from the PTE experience are discussed. In particular the implications of tritiated methane on sampling and analysis are considered. The results of environmental monitoring are presented and comparisons made with predictions from discharges made during the PTE and subsequent operations. The implications of washout on the site liquid discharge authorisation is considered. From a comparison of observed and predicted concentrations, routine releases of tritium from JET will have insignificant environmental impact.
