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Division Spotlight
Reactor Physics
The division's objectives are to promote the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical phenomena characterizing nuclear reactors and other nuclear systems. The division encourages research and disseminates information through meetings and publications. Areas of technical interest include nuclear data, particle interactions and transport, reactor and nuclear systems analysis, methods, design, validation and operating experience and standards. The Wigner Award heads the awards program.
Meeting Spotlight
2025 ANS Annual Conference
June 15–18, 2025
Chicago, IL|Chicago Marriott Downtown
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
July 2025
Nuclear Technology
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Latest News
Smarter waste strategies: Helping deliver on the promise of advanced nuclear
At COP28, held in Dubai in 2023, a clear consensus emerged: Nuclear energy must be a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition. With electricity demand projected to soar as we decarbonize not just power but also industry, transport, and heat, the case for new nuclear is compelling. More than 20 countries committed to tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050. In the United States alone, the Department of Energy forecasts that the country’s current nuclear capacity could more than triple, adding 200 GW of new nuclear to the existing 95 GW by mid-century.
Weiping Zhang, Yiheng Chen, Wenrui Cheng, Liping Guo, FengFeng Luo
Nuclear Technology | Volume 210 | Number 10 | October 2024 | Pages 1925-1931
Research Article | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2024.2304914
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Vanadium is a typical low-activation metal and has the advantages of lower neutron irradiation activation, better mechanical properties at high temperature, and higher compatibility with the liquid lithium blanket. However, the effect of helium on the formation of irradiation defects in vanadium has not been adequately explored at low temperatures (below 723 K). Helium ion irradiations of 18 keV up to 0.54 displacement per atom were employed to study the temperature-dependent behavior of irradiation defects in vanadium at 523, 623, and 723 K. Helium bubbles were observed in vanadium under irradiations at all temperatures, but no dislocation loops were observed. With the increase of irradiation temperature, the average size of helium bubbles and swelling increased, and the density of helium bubbles decreased. It is noteworthy that the average size of helium bubbles and swelling increased significantly when the irradiation temperature increased from 623 to 723 K. In addition, pentagonal helium bubbles, helium bubbles nucleated at the grain boundary, and combinations between helium bubbles were observed.
