Abstract:
The reconstruction of the research reactor IRT-2000 in Sofia into a low-power reactor is being carried out from 2001. The future utilization of IRT aims to satisfy the society needs for: development and preservation of nuclear science, skills, and knowledge; implementation of applied methods and research; education of students and training of graduated physicists and engineers in the field of nuclear science and nuclear energy; development of boron neutron capture therapy. It will support the keeping up specialists with researcher's approach and skills who are able to give adequate responses to the challenges of complex modern technologies and the associated environmental problems. It will be used for production of isotopes needed for medical therapy and diagnostics; in element activation analysis having a number of applications in industrial production, medicine, chemistry, criminology, etc. The reconstructed research reactor IRT will use low-enriched uranium fuel IRT-4M, with uranium-235 enrichment below 20%, is in accordance with the current norms on the security of transport and storage of nuclear and other radioactive materials which are vulnerable to theft by terrorists.