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Division Spotlight
Aerospace Nuclear Science & Technology
Organized to promote the advancement of knowledge in the use of nuclear science and technologies in the aerospace application. Specialized nuclear-based technologies and applications are needed to advance the state-of-the-art in aerospace design, engineering and operations to explore planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond, plus enhance the safety of air travel, especially high speed air travel. Areas of interest will include but are not limited to the creation of nuclear-based power and propulsion systems, multifunctional materials to protect humans and electronic components from atmospheric, space, and nuclear power system radiation, human factor strategies for the safety and reliable operation of nuclear power and propulsion plants by non-specialized personnel and more.
Meeting Spotlight
International Conference on Mathematics and Computational Methods Applied to Nuclear Science and Engineering (M&C 2025)
April 27–30, 2025
Denver, CO|The Westin Denver Downtown
Standards Program
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
Argonne’s METL gears up to test more sodium fast reactor components
Argonne National Laboratory has successfully swapped out an aging cold trap in the sodium test loop called METL (Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop), the Department of Energy announced April 23. The upgrade is the first of its kind in the United States in more than 30 years, according to the DOE, and will help test components and operations for the sodium-cooled fast reactors being developed now.
Rene Sanchez, William Myers, David Hayes, Robert Kimpland, Peter Jaegers, Richard Paternoster, Stephen Rojas, Richard Anderson, William Stratton
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 129 | Number 2 | June 1998 | Pages 187-194
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE98-A1973
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The parameters that determine when critical mixtures of 239Pu, SiO2, and water and mixtures of 239Pu, Nevada tuff, and water are capable of sustaining an increasing neutron chain reaction as may be caused by a positive void coefficient at constant temperature are established. A single canister is considered that is loaded with up to 75 kg of 239Pu. A survey of critical spherical mixtures of plutonium, SiO2, tuff, and water at constant temperature is created and these results are examined to determine the mixtures that might be autocatalytic. Regions of criticality instability are identified that have the possibility of autocatalytic power behavior. A positive void coefficient is possible for a very limited range of wet systems.
