Research Activities

Research activities in the last five years

2020

The operation of the VR-1 reactor in 2020, and thus the large research infrastructure, was fundamentally affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The reactor was only in operation for the first nine weeks until March 9, when by order of the government of the Czech Republic all universities were closed until June. During the summer, universities were opened for students, but already in September, with the onset of the second wave of the pandemic, schools were closed again until the end of the year. While the universities were closed, reactor workers had limited access to the reactor. In the spring wave of the pandemic, the reactor staff worked intensively to modify and expand the IRL (Internet Reactor Laboratory) so that it could also be used by students and researchers without the need to use specialized hardware and software developed for the International Atomic Energy Agency. In May, the first version of the expanded IRL laboratory was put into operation, enabling remote experimental teaching for CTU students as well as the first remote experiments for research (development of neutron imaging equipment).

Even in this very unfavorable pandemic time, the reactor workers finally managed to secure both experimental teaching and, even in a limited form and to a limited extent, the access of researchers to the reactor (either online or face-to-face). The most interesting research works in 2020 can include, for example, study of the composition of ancient and medieval coins (in cooperation with the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of Charles University), study of the behavior of reactor operators (in cooperation with the Defense Academy from Great Britain), evaluation of neutron detectors (in cooperation with VUJE Trnava in Slovakia), measurement of gamma ray spectra above the reactor vessel and in the radial channel of the reactor (in cooperation with the Řež Research Center), or the development of equipment for neutron imaging on very low power research reactors (in cooperation with the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum of the Technical University in Munich, Germany). As part of their bachelor's, diploma and dissertation theses, students carried out research, e.g. in the field of using neutron activation analysis of historical artefacts and environmental samples, optimization of the kinetic parameters of the VR-1 reactor or research using a D-D type neutron generator.

2021

The operation of the VR-1 school reactor in 2021, similar to the previous year, was significantly affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In the first half of the year, the universities were again closed to students, researchers and visitors, but reactor workers already had access to the reactor with minimal restrictions. This made it possible to carry out both remote experimental teaching and research and development work on the reactor, either online using the IRL (Internet Reactor Laboratory) or face-to-face without the participation of external users of the research infrastructure. The pandemic situation in the second half of the year improved significantly and already enabled the personal participation of external users of the research infrastructure in experiments at the reactor.

In 2021, the development of neutron imaging equipment at very low power research reactors continued (in collaboration with the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum of the Technical University of Munich, Germany). The other most interesting research works in 2021 include, for example, multidisciplinary research on the composition of mammoth bones and other animal remains from the site of Pálava in Moravia (in cooperation with the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences in Brno) using the neutron activation analysis, the measurement of gamma radiation spectra above the reactor vessel and in the radial channel of the reactor continued (in cooperation with the Research Center Řež), testing and evaluation of scintillation neutron detectors (in cooperation with the Defense Academy from Great Britain), or research work was started on the possibility of using neutron generators for the warranty process. The expansion of the IRL (Internet Reactor Laboratory) for user-friendly use of the reactor and adjacent laboratories for remote experimental teaching and research was also completed in 2021. As part of their bachelor's, diploma and dissertation theses, students continued research in the field of using neutron activation analysis of historical artefacts and environmental samples, further e.g. they carried out research on the deformation of the neutron flux density in the reactor core of the reactor during the fall of the control rod, investigated fast and slow transition processes on the reactor, or carried out measurements of the enrichment of uranium samples using a type D-D neutron generator.

2022

In 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic finally subsided and the operation of the VR-1 reactor returned to the standard pre-Covid period. Both standard experimental teaching and research and development work took place throughout the year, which already enabled users to participate in experiments personally. In addition, during the whole year, the construction of the VR-2 subcritical reactor took place in the reactor hall. The construction significantly limited the use of the radial channel and thus delayed the development of neutron imaging equipment. 2022 was also the last year when only the VR-1 reactor made up the major research infrastructure.

The most interesting research works in 2022 can include, for example, continuation of research into the composition of mammoth bones and other animal remains from the site of Pálava in Moravia (in cooperation with the Archaeological Institute of the Academy of Sciences in Brno) using the method of neutron activation analysis or continuation of the measurement of gamma radiation spectra above the reactor vessel and in the radial channel of the reactor (in cooperation with the Research Center Řež ), testing the radiation resistance of new types of temperature sensors using optical fibers (in cooperation with the Palacký University in Olomouc), research on the resistance of turtles to high doses of gamma radiation and neutrons (in cooperation with the Palacký University in Olomouc), or testing the coverage of new types of nuclear fuels using neutron activation analysis. As part of their bachelor's, diploma and dissertation theses, students continued research in the field of the use of neutron activation analysis of historical artifacts and environmental samples, research on the deformation of the neutron flux density in the reactor core of the reactor during the fall of the control rod, the study of fast and slow transition processes on the reactor, or determining the enrichment of uranium samples using a type D-D neutron generator.

2023

In 2023, the large research infrastructure expanded to the VR-1 Nuclear Experimental Hub, and in addition to the VR-1 reactor, it already includes the VR-2 subcritical reactor, six specialized laboratories, and other neutron sources. This year also saw the completion of the construction of the VR-2 subcritical reactor, which received a permit for commissioning in June. In 2023, the development of a facility for neutron imaging at very low power research reactors was completed (in collaboration with the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum of the Technical University of Munich, Germany). This experimental device, called NIFFLER, was put into permanent operation and began to be used in teaching and in research and development. This year also saw the start of a two-year development of the k-zero method for determining the absolute value of the mass of elements by the method of neutron activation analysis at low-power research reactors.

Among the most interesting research and development works in 2023 can be included e.g. continuation of research on the resistance of Tardigrade to high doses of gamma radiation and neutrons (in cooperation with the Palacký University in Olomouc) or continuation of the measurement of gamma radiation spectra above the reactor vessel and in the radial channel of the reactor (in cooperation with the Řež Research Center). This year, for example, testing of D-D and D-T type neutron generators for potential use in neutron imaging (in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum in Munich), analysis of samples of composite materials using neutron activation analysis (in cooperation with the Comenius University in Bratislava), irradiation of human tissue samples as part of research in the field of radiation protection (in cooperation with the State Institute of Radiation Protection), determination of the elemental composition of river shells using neutron activation analysis (in cooperation with Department of Solid State Engineering CTU), irradiation of fibroblast cell cultures using gamma radiation (in collaboration with Bene Meat Technologies) or analysis of fern samples (in collaboration with VÚKOZ). As part of their bachelor's, diploma and dissertation theses, students continued to research the deformation of the neutron flux density in the reactor core of the reactor during the fall of the control rod, further e.g. they studied the composition of ancient and medieval coins, performed gamma spectrometric measurements with an HPGe detector or performed HPGe detector calibrations with the aim of determining the minimum detectable amount of selected elements as accurately as possible.

2024

Among the most interesting research and development works in the first half of 2024 can be included e.g. testing of new types of scintillation detectors for neutron imaging (in cooperation with the Paul Scherrer Institute, Villingen in Switzerland), testing of detectors for mixed fields of gamma rays and neutrons (in cooperation with VF Černá Hora), integral measurement of the so-called "Broomstick experiment" (in cooperation with the Řež Research Center), irradiation of human blood samples as part of research in the field of radiation protection (in cooperation with the State Institute of Radiation Protection), or the study of the composition of obsidian and vltavines using the k-zero (k-zero) neutron activation analysis method .