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Division Spotlight
Young Members Group
The Young Members Group works to encourage and enable all young professional members to be actively involved in the efforts and endeavors of the Society at all levels (Professional Divisions, ANS Governance, Local Sections, etc.) as they transition from the role of a student to the role of a professional. It sponsors non-technical workshops and meetings that provide professional development and networking opportunities for young professionals, collaborates with other Divisions and Groups in developing technical and non-technical content for topical and national meetings, encourages its members to participate in the activities of the Groups and Divisions that are closely related to their professional interests as well as in their local sections, introduces young members to the rules and governance structure of the Society, and nominates young professionals for awards and leadership opportunities available to members.
Meeting Spotlight
2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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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Nuclear Science and Engineering
June 2024
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Latest News
U.S. nuclear capacity factors: Ideal for data centers?
Baseload nuclear generation doesn’t get the respect it deserves, if you ask nuclear operators. But the hyperscale data centers that process our digital lives—like the one right next to the Susquehanna plant in northeastern Pennsylvania—are pushing electricity demand up. Clean, reliable capacity now looks a lot more valuable.
Thomas Leadbeater, Andy Buffler, Michael van Heerden, Ameerah Camroodien, Deon Steyn
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 198 | Number 1 | January 2024 | Pages 121-137
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2023.2171234
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) is a radioactive tracer-based approach to studying dynamic physical processes and multiphase flows. Short-lived positron-emitting isotopes are loaded onto suitable substrates used as tracer particle flow followers in physical and engineering-relevant systems. Coincident photons from electron-positron annihilation are detected using large arrays of pixelated scintillators, with the reconstructed photon trajectories collectively used to determine tracer particle dynamics. We have developed indirect radiochemical, and direct physical activation, techniques for producing tracer particles for such studies, and we report on the current state of the art with focus on the direct approach with high-energy alpha-particle beams. The 16O(α,x)18F reactions have been explored as viable candidates in producing the pure positron emitter 18F from natural 16O-bearing targets. Silicon dioxide (SiO2) glass spheres of diameters of 5 to 10 mm were irradiated in a 100-MeV alpha-particle beam of around 800-nA current for approximately 2 h. Radioisotope activation yields were characterized by half-life measurements and gamma-ray spectroscopy, with the highest yield being 18F (<2.5 mCi). Contaminants from other reaction channels were observed and characterized, including the positron emitter 43Sc and negative beta emitter 24Na, produced from alpha and neutron activation of contaminant species in the target material, respectively. The activation technique is shown to be a reasonable candidate to complement and enhance existing tracer particle production techniques for PEPT and other radiotracer-based studies.