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Nuclear Reactor Program

Irradiation Facilities

The PULSTAR’s heavy fuel load with a high fuel-to-moderator ratio results in high fast neutron leakage at the core boundary. This causes a large thermal neutron “reflector hump” at the core periphery, yielding high thermal neutron fluxes at the experimental ports.

In-Pool Irradiation Facilities

FacilityDimensionNeutron Flux
Rotating Exposure Ports
4 in-pool, ex-core		2.5” ID wet sample irradiation terminus1.0×1013 thermal n/cm2/sec
2.5×1012 fast n/cm2/sec
Dry Exposure Ports
2 in-pool, ex-core		1.25” ID dry sample irradiation terminus4.0×1011 thermal n/cm2/sec
1.0×1011 fast n/cm2/sec
Pneumatic Terminus
1 in-pool, ex-core		1.25” ID fast rabbit sample transfer system1.0×1013 thermal n/cm2/sec
1.0×1012 fast n/cm2/sec
Pool Standpipes
3 in-pool, ex-core		3.75” ID dry sample irradiation positions2.0×1012 thermal n/cm2/sec
3.5×1011 fast n/cm2/sec
Pool Standpipes
3 in-pool, ex-core		7.98” ID dry sample irradiation positions1.0×1012 thermal n/cm2/sec
3.5×1011 fast n/cm2/sec

Flexible Irradiation Settings

Vertical ports (standpipes) can be configured to provide well controlled irradiation conditions, including:

  • Adjustable neutron flux by varying position relative to the reactor core
  • High temperature irradiation up to 800˚C
  • Instrumented experiments providing in-situ monitoring of electric signals
  • Fast neutron damage with shielded chamber to minimize sample activation
  • Inert cover gas or vacuum condition

Examples of experimental packages include:

  • Nuclear instruments and detectors (e.g. for calibration measurements or radiation damage studies).
  • Semiconductor devices and materials (e.g. for radiation damage studies or transmutation doping).
  • Fiber optic sensors.
  • Nuclear materials (e.g. fueled experiments, vessel steel)
  • Fission Track etch samples (e.g. geologic/ore samples)

Isotope Production

With the various facilities mentioned above, we provide rapid, flexible isotope production service for medical, industrial, and research applications. Examples of isotopes that may be produced include:

  • Antimony-122/124
  • Argon-41
  • Bromine-82
  • Cobalt-60
  • Gold-198
  • Homium-166
  • Iron-59
  • Sodium-24
  • …and many others depending on user’s requirements.

For additional information about the PULSTAR reactor’s irradiation and isotope production capabilities, please contact the Manager of Nuclear Services.