Nuclear reactor physics

Nuclear reactor physics is the field of <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a> that studies and deals with the <a href="/facts/Applied_science/13h5uYCH">applied study</a> and engineering applications of chain reaction to induce a controlled rate of fission in a nuclear reactor for the production of energy.
Most <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor/8xqjIbge">nuclear reactors</a> use a <a href="/facts/Chain_reaction/5UwHTKXS">chain reaction</a> to induce a controlled rate of <a href="/facts/Nuclear_fission/LfkIylvm">nuclear fission</a> in fissile material, releasing both <a href="/facts/Nuclear_power/jzSyvxSn">energy</a> and free <a href="/facts/Neutron/oRCM1geb">neutrons</a>. A reactor consists of an assembly of nuclear fuel (a <a href="/facts/Nuclear_reactor_core/RJv4geBq">reactor core</a>), usually surrounded by a <a href="/facts/Neutron_moderator/1qa6YvDD">neutron moderator</a> such as <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">regular water</a>, <a href="/facts/Heavy_water/3dbSrTw5">heavy water</a>, <a href="/facts/Graphite/sSf3KMXr">graphite</a>, or <a href="/facts/Zirconium_hydride/KuVmqePb">zirconium hydride</a>, and fitted with mechanisms such as <a href="/facts/Control_rods/VvMTweU5">control rods</a> which control the rate of the reaction.
The physics of <a href="/facts/Nuclear_fission/LfkIylvm">nuclear fission</a> has several quirks that affect the design and behavior of nuclear reactors. This article presents a general overview of the physics of nuclear reactors and their behavior.

Nuclear reactor physics open-in-new

Nuclear reactor physics