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
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
Latest Magazine Issues
Mar 2026
Jan 2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
April 2026
Nuclear Technology
February 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
Going Nuclear: Notes from the officially unofficial book tour
I work in the analytical labs at one of Europe’s oldest and largest nuclear sites: Sellafield, in northwestern England. I spend my days at the fume hood front, pipette in one hand and radiation probe in the other (and dosimeter pinned to my chest, of course). Outside the lab, I have a second job: I moonlight as a writer and public speaker. My new popular science book—Going Nuclear: How the Atom Will Save the World—came out last summer, and it feels like my life has been running at full power ever since.
G. Petö, R. Pepelnik
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 106 | Number 2 | October 1990 | Pages 219-227
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE90-A27472
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The present status of various deuterium-tritium (D-T) neutron sources is given, including the prospects for improvements. By upgrading a Rotating Target Neutron Source II-type neutron generator, a yield of 1014 n/s can be achieved in a small volume. A yield of 1015 n/s is expected with construction of a gas-jet target. According to a proposal from Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe, a similar yield could be reached even with a volume of 500 cm3. Realistic fusion reactor conditions can only be satisfied by high-intensity D-T neutron sources. Other more economical or higher intensity accelerator-based neutron sources cannot replace them in this research field. The lack of sufficient financial support delays technically realistic projects. This difficulty might be overcome by a more intense joint international collaboration.