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 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
Latest Magazine Issues
Jul 2026
Jan 2026
2026
Latest Journal Issues
Nuclear Science and Engineering
September 2026
Nuclear Technology
August 2026
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Brunilda Muçogllava, Selcen U. Duran, M. Bilge Demirköz
Nuclear Technology | Volume 211 | Number 11 | November 2025 | Pages 2870-2879
Note | doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2025.2461428
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Proton–stainless steel interactions occurring at the first collimator of the Middle East Technical University Defocusing Beamline generate high-energy secondary particles like neutrons (23 MeV), gamma rays (14 MeV), and electrons and positrons ( 7.0 MeV) with particle fluxes between 107 to 109 particles/(cm2∙s). A neutron collimating system aiming to reduce most of these secondaries and obtain a moderate flux of fast neutrons was designed and constructed. The collimating structure consists of a moderating unit aiming to shield the outside of the system, a neutron funnel to redirect the neutrons to the desired beam geometry, and a testing station. This system funnels neutrons into a 10-cm-diameter nonuniform beam and directs them to a testing area capable of hosting up to six samples of 7.3-cm diameter and up to 3.0-cm thickness. Simulation results show neutrons with energies up to 5.0 MeV and a flux of 106 neutrons/(cm2∙s) at the testing unit, while the experimental result gives a neutron dose rate of about 22 mSv/h.