One day, Phenix..

This book is mainly a collection of pictures taken at the Phenix fast breeder reactor site of Marcoule (France). A brief introduction summarizes the life of the reactor, from the decision of its construction taken in 1968, to its shutdown in 2009. During its first 17 years of existence, the reactor has played the role of demonstrator for the sodium-cooled FBR technology. The experience feedback is enormous. Less than 10 years after its start-up Phenix has demonstrated its breeding capacity at a quasi-industrial scale. Phenix has also demonstrated the feasibility of the minor actinides transmutation. From 1994 to 1997 and from 1998 to 2003 the reactor has been the object of deep renovations allowing its full power operation and the carrying out of irradiation experiments. On March 6, 2009 the reactor was disconnected from the grid. (J.S.)