Research and materials irradiation reactors

A research reactor is a nuclear facility in which atoms of fissile materials (e.g. uranium) are fissioned by a chain reaction to produce high neutron fluxes for use in various fields of fundamental and applied research. The energy released by fission is generally not recovered, unlike in nuclear power plants, where this is the sole purpose.

Research reactors are both ideal tools for the study of condensed matter, due to the physical characteristics of neutrons, and indispensable tools for the design of power reactors, for the qualification of materials and fuels under irradiation.reactors specific to a given reactor line, prior to industrialization, are not mentioned in this article, but in articles specific to each line.This article borrows extensively from the previous edition written by Francis MERCHIE.