ZiaCore Microreactor Achieves Criticality in High-Temperature Zero-Power Experiment
Los Alamos National Laboratory announced on July 30 that its ZiaCore microreactor design has completed a high-temperature zero-power criticality proof-of-principle experiment at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) in Nevada, successfully achieving initial criticality. ZiaCore is an advanced nuclear energy microreactor design that uses low-enriched uranium dioxide fuel. The experiment lasted approximately four weeks from April to May this year, advancing the ZiaCore system to zero-power criticality under high-temperature conditions. According to the reactor design and verification process, zero-power criticality experiments can be used to validate the effectiveness of reactor physics designs, providing key benchmark data for subsequent engineering development.
2026-07-31
