Nuclear education programs with reactor laboratory experiments at zero-powered research reactor facilities in Japan

Abstract

Reactor laboratory experiments are conducted in zero-powered research reactor facilities, at the University Teaching and Research Reactor (UTR in Kindai University: UTR-KINKI) and at Kyoto University Critical Assembly (KUCA), together with nuclear education through reactor physics experiments for university students. The experimental programs designed for undergraduate and graduate students at UTR-KINKI are classified into basic, intermediate, and advanced levels according to student coursework in subjects related to reactor physics and radiation detection; also developed is a curriculum of experimental programs to meet student needs. A new educational program is provided at KUCA, covering exponential experiments and uranium enrichment measurements. The range of the systematic development of programs for reactor laboratory experiments is extensive, covering reactor physics experiments and radiation detection. Notably, incorporating subcriticality measurements by the Feynman-α method in the UTR-KINKI core into the program offers outstanding opportunities for direct experience with measurement and data processing methods that involve critical approach monitoring of fuel debris. Introducing subcritical measurements is conducive to the fostering experts with an interest in criticality safety.