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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
S. N. Cramer
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 139 | Number 2 | October 2001 | Pages 186-208
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE01-A2231
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Several one-energy group, discrete-direction radiation transport systems having analytic flux solutions are presented as an aid in Monte Carlo benchmark analysis techniques independent of realistic geometry and cross-section data requirements. Exact comparison of analytic and Monte Carlo results to several significant digits is possible for up to 26 directions in one, two, and three dimensions. A continuous direction model has also been formulated from an infinite limit of the discrete-direction model. Complete analytic flux solutions are possible through the imposition of boundary sources dictated by assumed exponential solutions of the transport equation. Extensions to two energy groups, two cross-section media, secondary particle production, time dependence, and continuous slowing down are examined. A website is provided from which codes and sample output files for the analytic and Monte Carlo models can be downloaded.