McMaster Nuclear Reactor 3753477 173808821 2007-11-26T02:48:21Z 203.218.216.73 [[Image:Nuclear_reactor.jpg|thumb|right|250px|McMaster Nuclear Reactor. Above: construction began in 1957, completed in 1959.<br> Below: Reactor in 2004.]] The '''McMaster Nuclear Reactor''' (MNR) is a 5[[MWe#Watts_electrical_and_thermal|MWth]] [[pool-type reactor]] located on the campus of [[McMaster University]], in [[Hamilton, Ontario]]. ==Description== MNR began operating in April 1959, as the first [[university]] based [[research reactor]] in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], and remains the highest-flux reactor in a university environment in [[Canada]] to this day. The reactor consists of two connected pools; the core can be located and operated in either one. This allows the core to be moved away from experimental apparatus for maintenance. MNR is an example of a reactor where the core (and its [[Cherenkov radiation]]) is visible while the reactor is operating (the [[SLOWPOKE reactor|Slowpoke-2]] at the [[Royal_Military_College_of_Canada|Royal Military College of Canada]] is another Canadian reactor with this feature). MNR is the only research reactor in Canada with a full containment structure. The reactor is fuelled with low enrichment uranium (see [[enriched uranium]]) and cooled and moderated with light water. Heat is transported to the atmosphere through the secondary coolant system via two [[cooling tower]]s adjacent to the reactor building. The reactor is used for a variety of purposes: undergraduate education involves NAA, reactor physics experiments and [[radioisotope]]s for tracers and counting experiments. Graduate studies use neutron beams for [[neutron]] [[radiography]], neutron diffraction, prompt gamma NAA and geochronological techniques. Commercial activities include [[radioisotope]] production and [[neutron]] [[radiography]]. The facilities also include a [[Hot Cell]] and high-activity [[cobalt]] source and high level radioisotope laboratories. Researchers using MNR are based at McMaster as well as other universities in Canada and around the world. ==Alleged links to terrorism and lawsuit== [[Paul L. Williams]], an American author, has published books which claim that McMaster University in general and the nuclear reactor specifically have been infiltrated by terrorist groups, who have managed to steal 180 pounds (82 kilograms) of unspecified [[nuclear material]]. The University strenuously denies these claims, and is in the process of sueing Williams for upwards of $2-Million. The [[Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission]], which regulates all radioactive material in Canada, have released a letter stating that "We can confirm that there has never been a report of any nuclear material that has been lost or stolen from McMaster's reactor".<ref> [http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=84126f69-db8a-441d-ae94-f2c7dcec05b9&p=1 National Post article regarding the lawsuit.]</ref> ==See also== *[[Nuclear reactor]] *[[Research reactor]] ==External links== *[http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/mnr/ The McMaster University Reactor homepage] ==References== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> [[Category:McMaster University]] [[Category:Science and technology in Canada]] [[Category:Nuclear research centers]]