Possibilities of RA reactor applications

RA research reactor is a typical 'second generation' research reactor most often used for fundamental and applied research as well as commercial applications. It has been designed as a multipurpose research reactor of medium power, with relatively high neutron flux. Until 1976 it was operated with 2% enriched metal uranium fuel, and since 1981 it was operated with 80% enriched fuel which increased the experimental possibilities, i.e. increase of thermal neutron flux to 1014 cm-2 s-2 in the center of the core at nominal power of 6.5 MW. There is a total of 45 vertical experimental channels, 9 in the core, 34 graphite reflector and 2 in the water biological shield. Under nominal power, thermal neutron flux in these channels is 3,6 1013cm-2 s-1 to 1014 cm-2 s-2, and fast neutron flux in the core is from 2 1012cm-2 s-1 to 4 1012cm-2 s-1. RA reactor is equipped with an automated device for handling the material samples. There are six horizontal experimental channels at the RA reactor uniformly distributed around the core which are used mostly for experiments in the field of condensed matter physics and chemistry, material science and nuclear physics. Neutron flux in these channels is about 109 cm-2 s-2. There is a thermal column at the RA reactor as well. Low temperature, low pressure experimental loop VINCA-1 with separate cooling system is designed and placed in the center of the core and meant for irradiation of fuel elements. There are four hot cells equipped with devices for preparation, encapsulation and control measurements of closed radiation sources up to 3,7 1014 Bq