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
Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
V. C. A. Vaughen, W. T. McDuffee, E. Lamb, R. A. Robinson
Nuclear Technology | Volume 6 | Number 6 | June 1969 | Pages 549-558
Technical Paper and Note | doi.org/10.13182/NT69-A28284
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
SNAP-11 is an isotope-fueled thermoelectric generator, fueled with 7.5 g of 242Cm, which was obtained from 241Am irradiated to ∼1.2 × 1021 n/cm2. The irradiated material was dissolved in hydrochloric acid 15 to 30 days after discharge from the reactor and processed through two cycles of solvent extraction to remove ionic and radioactive contaminants. The curium and americium were converted to the sesquioxide, pelletized, and encapsulated into the isotopic heat source. The heat source was installed in a thermoelectric converter package to complete the SNAP-11 system, which was then tested for 90 days in a lunar environment simulator at a pressure of 10−7 Torr and temperatures from −235 to +235°F. It successfully met all performance specifications.