Noun
nuclear reactor -
(physics) any of several kinds of apparatus that maintain and control a nuclear reaction for the production of energy or artificial elements
reactor
apparatus ,
setup equipment designed to serve a specific function
natural philosophy ,
physics the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics"
atomic pile ,
atomic reactor ,
chain reactor ,
pile a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fission to generate energy
breeder reactor a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it burns
control rod a steel or aluminum rod that can be moved up or down to control the rate of the nuclear reaction
core a bar of magnetic material (as soft iron) that passes through a coil and serves to increase the inductance of the coil
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
fusion reactor ,
thermonuclear reactor a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fusion to generate energy
water-cooled reactor nuclear reactor using water as a coolant
