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
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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!
Latest Magazine Issues
Aug 2025
Jan 2025
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
August 2025
Latest News
Powering the future: How the DOE is fueling nuclear fuel cycle research and development
As global interest in nuclear energy surges, the United States must remain at the forefront of research and development to ensure national energy security, advance nuclear technologies, and promote international cooperation on safety and nonproliferation. A crucial step in achieving this is analyzing how funding and resources are allocated to better understand how to direct future research and development. The Department of Energy has spearheaded this effort by funding hundreds of research projects across the country through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP). This initiative has empowered dozens of universities to collaborate toward a nuclear-friendly future.
Naeem M. Abdurrahman, Robert C. Block, Donald R. Harris, Rudolf E. Slovacek, Yong-Doek Lee, Francisco Rodriguez-Vera
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 115 | Number 4 | December 1993 | Pages 279-296
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE92-94
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The slowing-down-time method for the nondestructive assay of light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel is under development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A series of assay measurements of an LWR fuel assembly replica were carried out at the Rensselaer lead slowing-down-time spectrometer facility by using 238U and 232Th threshold fission detectors and 235U and 239Pu probe chambers. An assay model relating the assay signal and the signals of the probe chambers to the unknown masses of the fissile isotopes in the fuel assembly was developed. The probe chamber data were used to provide individual fission counting spectra of 235U and 239Pu inside the fuel assembly and to simulate spent-fuel assay signals. The fissile isotopic contents of the fuel were determined to better than 1%. Monte Carlo analyses were performed to simulate the experimental measurements, determine certain parameters of the assay system, and investigate the effect of the fuel assembly and hydrogen impurities on the performance of the system. The broadened resolution of the system caused by the presence of the fuel was still found to be sufficient for the accurate and separate assay of the uranium and plutonium fissiles in spent fuel.
