Reactor physics aspects of material irradiation in Indian research reactors for societal application

The primary use of research reactors is to provide a neutron source for research and various societal applications, including education and training. For more than 60 years, research reactors (RRs) have been centre of innovation and productivity for nuclear science and technology. RRs support has spawned new developments in nuclear power, radioisotope production, nuclear medicine, neutron beam research, neutron activation analysis to measure minute quantities of an element, materials testing for nuclear reactor technology, computer code validation, neutron transmutation doping of silicon, gemstone coloration, boron neutron capture therapy, etc. Presently two research reactors namely Dhruva (100 MW) and Apsara-U (2 MW) are operational at BARC, Trombay