Nuclear Reactor Laboratory

The Nuclear Reactor Laboratory operates a nuclear reactor and two gamma-irradiation facilities in support of research and education and provides irradiation services for university and other regional users. The reactor is one of 26 non-power reactors currently operating at universities in the U.S. Current users of the reactor and the gamma-irradiation facilities come from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Arizona Research Laboratories Divisions, Atmospheric Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and General Dynamics Corporation, Scottsdale, AZ. Uses of the reactor and the gamma-irradiation facilities include neutron activation analysis of meteoritic and other geological samples, radiation induced chemical processing, testing of radiation effects in electronics, and radiation dosimetry research for homeland security and other applications. The nuclear reactor is currently licensed for operation until the year 2010, and is expected to be decommissioned after that date.