Russia
A.I. Alikhanov Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (ITEP)
This page is part of the Facilities Collection.
Established in 1945, ITEP was tasked with developing a heavy water reactor and researching cosmic rays. Its first heavy water research reactor started up in 1949, and served as the model for the construction of heavy water reactors in Yugoslavia, China, and the Czech Republic, among others. 1
Since its inception, ITEP has conducted research on low-, intermediate-, and high-energy physics; reactor physics and engineering; and particle accelerator physics and engineering. It is one of four organizations comprising the pilot cooperation project National Research Center Kurchatov Institute, established in 2009. 2
The Institute also has two critical assemblies, one operational and one under construction, both of which are powered by highly-enriched uranium (HEU). 3
Glossary
- Research reactor
- Research reactor: Small fission reactors designed to produce neutrons for a variety of purposes, including scientific research, training, and medical isotope production. Unlike commercial power reactors, they are not designed to generate power.
- Highly enriched uranium (HEU)
- Highly enriched uranium (HEU): Refers to uranium with a concentration of more than 20% of the isotope U-235. Achieved via the process of enrichment. See entry for enriched uranium.
Sources
- "Kratkaia istoriia ITEF,” [Short history of ITEP], Ofitsial’nyi sait Institut teoreticheskoi i eksperimental’noi fiziki imeni A.I. Alikhanova, [Official site of the A.I. Alikhanov Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics], www.itep.ru.
- "Natsional'nyi issledovatel'skii tsentr ‘Kurchatovskii institut,’” National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Ofitsial’nyi sait Natsional'nyi issledovatel'skii tsentr “Kurchatovskii institute,” Official site of National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, www.nrcki.ru.
- "Research reactors: Russia," International Panel on Fissile Materials, www.fissilematerials.org.