Meaning | (physics) any of several kinds of apparatus that maintain and control a nuclear reaction for the production of energy or artificial elements. |
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Synonym | reactor |
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Category | physics, natural philosophy | The science of matter and energy and their interactions |
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Parts | control rod | A steel or aluminum rod that can be moved up or down to control the rate of the nuclear reaction |
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core | The chamber of a nuclear reactor containing the fissile material where the reaction takes place |
moderator | Any substance used to slow down neutrons in nuclear reactors |
Narrower | atomic pile, atomic reactor, pile, chain reactor | A nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fission to generate energy |
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breeder reactor | A nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it burns |
fast reactor | nuclear reactor in which nuclear fissions are caused by fast neutrons because little or no moderator is used |
gas-cooled reactor | A nuclear reactor using gas as a coolant |
liquid metal reactor | A nuclear reactor using liquid metal as a coolant |
thermal reactor | A nuclear reactor in which nuclear fissions are caused by neutrons that are slowed down by a moderator |
thermonuclear reactor, fusion reactor | A nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fusion to generate energy |
water-cooled reactor | nuclear reactor using water as a coolant |
Broader | apparatus, setup | equipment designed to serve a specific function |
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Spanish | reactor, reactor nuclear |
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Catalan | reactor, reactor nuclear |
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