Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Experiments

This open access book is a pedagogical text on nuclear reactor experiments, covering almost all the experiments that can be carried out at the University Training Reactor, Kindai University (UTR-KINKI) with respect to reactor physics and radiation detection, and additionally including academic materials of test and research reactors, nuclear instrumentation, nuclear laws and regulations, in this main body. The book is an excellent primer for students who are interested in reactor physics, radiation detection, nuclear laws and regulations at universities, and the best textbook for students who have started to study the nuclear energy related fields to understand the basic theories and principles of the experiments in the fields of reactor physics and radiation detection.

UTR-KINKI has been used for educational reactor experiments and basic research in a wide range of fields related to the use of radiation (neutrons, gamma-ray, beta-ray, alpha-ray, and X-ray), including reactorphysics, radiation detection, radiation health physics, activation analysis, radiation biology, medical applications and archaeology. Also, UTR-KINKI has been actively engaged in nuclear education with its long history of operation, and has gained extensive experience in educational activities for undergraduate and graduate students, elementary, junior high and high school teachers, junior high and high school students, and general audiences.

Takahiro Yamada is an associate professor at the Atomic Energy Research Institute, Kindai University in Japan. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Quantum Science and Energy Engineering, Tohoku University, Japan. He joined Kindai University as an assistant professor in 2017. He is a regular member of the Japan Radioisotope Association (JRIA), the Japan Health Physics Society (JHPS) and JSMP, and also was appointed as an expert committee member at these academic societies. He contributes to international standardization for radiological protection as an expert member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical committee 85, Subcommittee 2. 

Tomohiro Endo is an associate professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University in Japan. He received his Ph.D. in engineering from the Department of Materials, Physics and Energy Engineering, Nagoya University in Japan, where he became an assistant professor in 2010 and was appointed to his current position at the Department of Applied Energy in 2019. He was honored with the 50th AESJ Best Paper Award in 2018. 

Cheol Ho Pyeon is an associate professor at the Institute for Integral Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University in Japan. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Fundamental Energy Science, Kyoto University, Japan. He joined the Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University as an assistant professor in  2002 and was appointed to his current position in 2012. He contributes to the Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology (JNST) by AESJ as a vice editor-in-chief. He was honored with the JNST Most Cited Article Award in 2014 and 2015 and the Academic Achievement Award of AESJ in 2020.