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Conference Spotlight
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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New coolants, new fuels: A new generation of university reactors
Here’s an easy way to make aging U.S. power reactors look relatively youthful: Compare them (average age: 43) with the nation’s university research reactors. The 25 operating today have been licensed for an average of about 58 years.
Kingsley F Graham, John M. Carpenter
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 49 | Number 4 | December 1972 | Pages 418-437
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE72-A22562
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Measurements of the time and energy dependence of the spectrum of slow neutrons emerging from small pulsed moderators are reported. The results are presented with absolute normalization. Our techniques made measurements possible using a 150 keV Cockroft-Walton D-T neutron generator, producing 1011 n/sec (peak). Energy spectra and time distributions at various energies are reported for slabs of polyethylene at 296°K, and polyethylene, solid ammonia, and solid methane at 77 °K. Variations of yield with overall moderator thickness are described. The effects on spectra and time distributions are elucidated by a series of measurements with cadmium heterogeneous poison at various depths beneath the moderator surface. We compare cadmium and gadolinium heterogeneous poisons, which differ in the energy below which the poison is effective. Results are useful for pulsed moderator design, and as tests of neutron scattering kernels and methods of calculation.