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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting 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!
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Latest News
NRC cuts fees by 50 percent for advanced reactor applicants
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced it has amended regulations for the licensing, inspection, special projects, and annual fees it will charge applicants and licensees for fiscal year 2025.
B. E. Simmons, J. S. King
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 3 | Number 5 | May 1958 | Pages 595-608
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE3-595-608
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
If a burst of neutrons is injected into a reactor, the rate of prompt decay of the resultant flux should be proportional to the reactivity in dollars as measured from prompt critical. The proportionality constant is the ratio of the effective delayed neutron fraction to the prompt neutron generation time and can be determined by pulsing the reactor at (delayed) critical. Experiments with distributed poison in several highly enriched, hydrogen-moderated critical assemblies indicate that such pulsed reactivity measurements are reliable at least as far as