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 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
Nuclear Technology
September 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2026
Latest News
Front-end nuclear fuel supply cooperation: Turning allied interdependence into strategic advantage
The global nuclear revival, which is fueled by unprecedented demand for firm, affordable, dispatchable power for artificial intelligence and data center build-out, energy security imperatives, and climate commitments, has exposed a structural reality of the Western fuel cycle: No single allied nation currently possesses the full suite of front-end capabilities. From mining through conversion, enrichment, fabrication, and the emerging deconversion and metallization steps required for reactor fuels, capability is distributed across Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (collectively, the “Sapporo Five”), as well as a small group of close partners.
Raymond Gold and Roland J. Armani, James H. Roberts
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 34 | Number 1 | October 1968 | Pages 13-32
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE68-A19362
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The method of fission track counting has been placed on a precise absolute basis. Sources of systematic error have been investigated and eliminated or reduced so that precise fission rate measurements can be conducted. Solid State Track Recorders (SSTR) of pre-etched mica and polycarbonate resin (Makrofol) have been used. Experimental results depend critically on the quality of the fission sources employed. Consequently, different methods of fission source preparation have been examined. The efficiency and sensitivity of this method have been determined for both mica and Makrofol. An irradiation assembly providing uniform neutron flux exposures is used for relative measurements. Absolute calibrations have been carried out with 244Cm spontaneous fission sources. A limiting accuracy of close to 1% for absolute uranium fission rate measurements has been achieved.