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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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The RAIN scale: A good intention that falls short
Radiation protection specialists agree that clear communication of radiation risks remains a vexing challenge that cannot be solved solely by finding new ways to convey technical information.
Earlier this year, an article in Nuclear News described a new radiation risk communication tool, known as the Radiation Index, or, RAIN (“Let it RAIN: A new approach to radiation communication,” NN, Jan. 2025, p. 36). The authors of the article created the RAIN scale to improve radiation risk communication to the general public who are not well-versed in important aspects of radiation exposures, including radiation dose quantities, units, and values; associated health consequences; and the benefits derived from radiation exposures.
Lei Zhu, Jim E. Morel
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 164 | Number 3 | March 2010 | Pages 205-220
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE08-67
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
We derive three new linear-discontinuous least-squares discretizations for the Sn equations in one-dimensional slab geometry. Standard least-squares methods are not compatible with discontinuous trial spaces, and they are also generally not conservative. Our new methods are unique in that they are based upon a least-squares minimization principle, use a discontinuous trial space, are conservative, and retain the structure of standard Sn spatial discretization schemes. To our knowledge, conservative least-squares spatial discretization schemes have not previously been developed for the Sn equations. We compare our new methods both theoretically and numerically to the linear-discontinuous Galerkin method and the lumped linear-discontinuous Galerkin method. We find that one of our schemes is clearly superior to the other two and offers certain advantages over both of the Galerkin schemes.