Physics of the Munich compact core design

The project of a new research reactor in Germany aims at realizing an efficient neutron source optimized primarily for neutron beam applications. Since the reactor power has to be low from reasons of economy and public acceptance, the optimization studies have resulted in a particularly compact, light water cooled reactor core which is surrounded by a large heavy water moderator tank. This concept leads to high values of the thermal neutron flux in a large useable volume outside of the core - with an unperturbed flux maximum of about 8 x 1014cm-2s-1 at only 20 MW power