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Isotopes & Radiation
Members are devoted to applying nuclear science and engineering technologies involving isotopes, radiation applications, and associated equipment in scientific research, development, and industrial processes. Their interests lie primarily in education, industrial uses, biology, medicine, and health physics. Division committees include Analytical Applications of Isotopes and Radiation, Biology and Medicine, Radiation Applications, Radiation Sources and Detection, and Thermal Power Sources.
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2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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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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Nominations open for CNTA awards
Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness is accepting nominations for its Fred C. Davison Distinguished Scientist Award and its Nuclear Service Award. Nominations for both awards must be submitted by August 1.
The awards will be presented this fall as part of the CNTA’s annual Edward Teller Lecture event.
Michael A. Reichenberger, Jagoda M. Urban-Klaehn, Jason V. Brookman, Joshua L. Peterson-Droogh, Jorge Navarro, Richard H. Howard
Nuclear Technology | Volume 208 | Number 2 | February 2022 | Pages 303-309
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2021.1903299
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Production of high specific activity (HSA) 60Co has recently resumed at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory. The technical steps of performing in-canal assay of HSA 60Co targets at the ATR are described herein. The HSA targets are assayed on a regular basis, between cycles at the ATR, in order to assess the progress of activation. The targets are also assayed at the conclusion of the irradiation in order to provide activity estimates for the distributor and to be used for safety and shipping evaluations. These target assay activities must take place in the ATR canal to provide sufficient radiological shielding. A specialized assay fixture is used in conjunction with custom 60Co radiation standards to assess the irradiated target. The specific activity of each irradiated target was determined by first measuring the 60Co standards to determine a sensitivity factor. Then, each irradiated target was measured, and the integrated measurement was multiplied by the sensitivity factor to determine the total activity of the irradiated target. Finally, a correction factor was determined to adjust the reported activity, accounting for differences in the physical geometries of the standards and targets. These methods were used to accurately assay the gross activity of nine irradiated 60Co targets, two of which were delivered to the distributor where confirmatory hot-cell assays were performed verifying the accuracy of the in-canal assay method.