Accelerate the Accelerators! Are There Alternatives to Nuclear Research Reactors?

Project on Managing the Atom Seminar Series

Nuclear research reactors are used in many countries for research and training, materials testing, or the production of radioisotopes for medicine and industry. Other countries demand new reactors for these needs. Most of these reactors operate with highly enriched uranium nuclear fuel, which entails considerable security and safety risks.

Do alternatives exist? A new technology of accelerators may become a substitute for nuclear research reactors. This presentation reviewed the alternatives and benefits of adopting the technology of accelerators in order to reduce dependence on enriched uranium.