Using the neutrons generated, and confined, in the core of the reactor, the irradiation installations provide applications in many different fields such as:
R&D (Research and Development)
- Research on current and future nuclear plant materials’ structure, and their behaviour over time
- Studies on fuel behaviour for fuels in current nuclear installations and those being designed for the future
- Studies on the transmutation of long-life fission products and/or minor actinides to improve management of nuclear waste
Medicine (production of isotopes used for certain medical examinations and therapies)
The electronics industry (doping of silicon plates)
The Defence : simulation of irradiation effects on components etc.
Currently, in France the activities of teaching are carried out on reactor ISIS (technological irradiation reactor) at the CEA of Saclay and the reactors MINERVE and AZUR at the CEA in Cadarache.