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.
M. Brugger, P. Cennini, A. Ferrari, E. Lebbos, V. Vlachoudis
Nuclear Technology | Volume 168 | Number 3 | December 2009 | Pages 752-757
Heavy Ion Transport | Special Issue on the 11th International Conference on Radiation Shielding and the 15th Topical Meeting of the Radiation Protection and Shielding Division (PART 3) / Radiation Measurements and Instrumentation | doi.org/10.13182/NT09-A9301
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The n_TOF facility, a spallation neutron source, uses a pure lead target to produce neutrons with a 20-GeV proton beam extracted from the CERN Proton Synchrotron. After 4 yr of operation and [approximately]3 yr of cooling, the present spallation target is damaged and was moved to its provisional storage place in the n_TOF service gallery and will be later transferred to a Swiss repository. In this study, to deal with the removal and storage of the lead target, detailed isotope production and residual dose rate calculations were performed with the FLUKA Monte Carlo code. The study further includes a detailed analysis of three-dimensional residual dose rate fields around the target and through the installation pit. It addresses critical design parameters for the new target and successfully compares the simulation results to recently available measurement data. FLUKA allows residual dose rates to be calculated using two different approaches: a one-step approach that simultaneously takes into account production and decay (built-in) and a two-step approach that allows for flexible geometries between the isotope production and sampling of the decay products (customized). This work shows the clear advantage of performing Monte Carlo calculations prior to interventions and waste disposal and the importance of a detailed description of all the installation components, a complete chemical composition inventory, and a correct irradiation profile.