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 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
August 2026
Nuclear Technology
July 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The deadline arrives: Checking in on the Reactor Pilot Program
On May 23, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14301, “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the DOE,” which instructed the Department of Energy to create a Reactor Pilot Program (RPP)—a new system in which companies could pursue DOE authorization to build and test their first-of-a-kind nuclear technologies. EO 14301 set an ambitious goal for that program: three reactors achieving criticality by July 4, 2026.
A. A. Ivanov, D. D. Ryutov
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 106 | Number 3 | November 1990 | Pages 235-242
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE90-A29052
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A survey of plasma-type neutron sources is presented. Mirror devices are found to be most suitable for use as a neutron source because their high-β values allow a high-intensity flux of 14-MeV deuterium-tritium neutrons at a moderate plasma size. Mirror devices also have a convenient geometry for radiation tests. A conceptual design and performance of a neutron source based on the gas dynamic trap are described. Components (neutral beam injectors, tritium system, etc.) of the plasma-type neutron source are compared with those of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility. It is shown that the current level of technology is sufficient for construction of a mirror-based neutron source.