Publications Details

The Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) Description and Capabilities

Parma Jr., Edward J.; Gregson, Michael W.

The Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) is a unique, one-of-a-kind nuclear reactor facility operated by Sandia National Laboratories for the National Nuclear Security Administration that is considered by many to be a national treasure. There is no other research reactor in the world that has the attributes and capabilities comparable to that of the ACRR. The ACRR was specifically designed to meet the irradiation testing needs of the U.S. nuclear weapons program. The ACRR has four major attributes that make it unique: 1) a large dry central cavity; 2) an epithermal neutron flux; 3) a large pulsing capability; and 4) a fueled-ring external cavity with a larger dry cavity. This report presents the unique capabilities of the ACRR and documents some of the more important metrics associated with its operation. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank the Annular Core Research Reactor staff and the Radiation Metrology Laboratory staff for their support of this work.