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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 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.
Ernesto C. Vanterpool, Rudolf E. Slovacek, Donald R. Harris, Robert C. Block
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 110 | Number 2 | February 1992 | Pages 186-194
Technical Notes | doi.org/10.13182/NSE92-A23888
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Interrogation neutrons from 3 eV to 3 keV are used to determine the relative sensitivity of a spent light water reactor fuel assembly assay system. The fuel assay system used for this measurement consists of three threshold fission chambers installed in the Rensselaer intense neutron spectrometer, a 75-t lead slowing-down-time spectrometer at the Gaerttner Linac Laboratory. The fission chambers detect fission neutrons from a simulated fuel assembly, an aluminum enclosure filled with depleted uranium oxide (0.2% 235U), and a 235U (93%) metal foil sample placed at various locations throughout the assembly. The measurements with the assembly are compared with a Monte Carlo analysis of an homogenized pressurized water reactor fuel assembly. This is concluded to be a practical method for the assay of spent fuel.
