Cylindrical IEC neutron source design for driven research reactor operation

A resurgence in nuclear power use is now underway worldwide. However, due many university research reactors shutdown, they must rely on using sub-critical assemblies which employs a cylindrical Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) device to provide a fusion neutron source. The source is inserted in a fuel element position, with its power input controlled externally at a control panel. This feature opens the way to use of the critical assembly for a number of transient experiments such as sub-critical pulsing and neutron wave propagation. That in turn adds important new insights and excitement for the student teaching laboratory.