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May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Latest News
DOE awards ANS-backed workforce consortium $19.2M
The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy recently awarded about $49.7 million to 10 university-led projects aiming to develop nuclear workforce training programs around the country.
DOE-NE issued its largest award, $19.2 million, to the newly formed Great Lakes Partnership to Enhance the Nuclear Workforce (GLP). This regional consortium, which is led by the University of Toledo and includes the American Nuclear Society, will use the funds to fill a variety of existing gaps in the nuclear workforce pipeline.
Takashi Hirai, Shin Nakatani, Motoyasu Sato
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 200 | Number 2 | February 2026 | Pages 357-365
Regular Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2025.2486899
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This study explores neutron energy attenuation in reactors using helium as a coolant. Helium’s interaction with neutrons is pivotal, reducing their energy and assimilating them into the background system. Unlike typical Maxwell-Boltzmann behavior, neutron scattering off helium results in a distinct nonthermal distribution, characterized by deviations in energy components defined as nonthermal energy. This paper highlights the significance of entropy in these interactions, noting that components with nonthermal energy exhibit higher entropy levels even at constant temperatures. Nonthermal energy not only prompts an immediate rise in temperature, but can also be directly measured through precise experiments. This phenomenon holds both scientific intrigue and substantial engineering relevance, offering insights into neutron dynamics within helium-cooled systems. A thorough analysis of nonthermal energy elucidates its accumulation within the system and its impact on energy balance, advancing our understanding of neutron interactions in such environments.