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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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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.G. Heics, W.T. Shmayda, R. Matsugu, S.K. Sood, K. Kalyanam, G.M. Pien, S. Letzring
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 28 | Number 3 | October 1995 | Pages 1515-1520
Tritium Waste Management and Discharge Control | 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-A30627
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Omega Upgrade at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics will commence deuterium-tritium (DT) shots in 1995. Omega Upgrade utilizes a 350 nm, 30 kJ laser to energize DT filled targets contained within an evacuated target chamber (TC). Up to 10 DT shots per day are planned, 5 days a week, with each target containing 20 mCi of tritium. Cryopumps, used to achieve high vacuum in the TC and to collect unburnt gases following DT shots, are regenerated on a monthly basis. The Tritium Scrubber System (TSS) has been designed to capture tritium released from the cryopumps, vacuum pump exhaust streams, outgassing from internal surfaces, and in the event of target rupture. A large quantity of low activity gas needs to be processed by the system; the target chamber and diagnostic antechambers will be evacuated up to 8 and 2000 times each month, respectively. The TSS has been designed to interface with existing equipment at the facility. To permit the safe handling of tritium gas products and to comply with emission regulations, modifications are required to the facility to enable the capture of tritiated species from exhaust streams before being released to the atmosphere. The targeted annual tritium emission for the facility is less than 10 mCi. The TSS utilizes zirconium alloy hydride beds and molecular sieve beds to detritiate exhaust streams prior to stacking to satisfy this stringent emission target.