atomic pile
Fission chain machine
An atomic pile is an early term for a nuclear reactor—a device that sustains a controlled chain reaction to produce energy.
The name comes from the stacked arrangement of uranium and graphite blocks in the first reactors.
The term is now largely historical, replaced by nuclear reactor in technical and general usage.
Self-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- neutronsUncharged subatomic particles
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- Los AlamosNuclear research town
- Oak RidgeWWII atomic research center
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
- HiroshimaFirst nuclear-struck city
Neutron-absorbing reactor components
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- reactor coreCentral fission zone
- fuel rodsEncased fissile material tubes
- heavy waterDeuterium-based water compound
heat exchanger · shielding · containment · reflector · air-cooled · water-cooled
Energy propagation through space
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
- beta particlesElectrons from radioactive decay
- decayGradual organic breakdown
half-life · isotopes · contamination · shielding · dosimeter · Geiger counter · radioactive waste · exposure
View through interior
- criticalityState of utmost importance
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
- neutron absorptionNucleus incorporates uncharged particle
- bucklingBending from compression
chain reaction
Self-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
Manhattan Project
Clandestine atomic weapons program
- Los AlamosNuclear research town
- Oak RidgeWWII atomic research center
- Cold WarProlonged East-West standoff
Enrico Fermi · Hiroshima · Nagasaki · Enola Gay · nuclear arms race
control rods
Neutron-absorbing reactor components
- coolantTemperature-regulating fluid
- reactor coreCentral fission zone
- fuel rodsEncased fissile material tubes
heavy water · heat exchanger · shielding · containment · reflector · air-cooled · water-cooled
radiation
Energy propagation through space
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
- beta particlesElectrons from radioactive decay
decay · half-life · isotopes · contamination · shielding · dosimeter · Geiger counter · radioactive waste · exposure · ionizing radiation
cross-section
View through interior
- criticalityState of utmost importance
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
- neutron absorptionNucleus incorporates uncharged particle
- nuclear sciencenuclear fission, nuclear physics, nuclear fusion, radiation, nuclear fuel
atomic pileatomic bomb
Fission-triggered mass destruction device
nuclear bomb · nuclear weapon · hydrogen bomb · thermonuclear bomb · fission bomb
atomic pilehydroelectric dam
Water-powered generating station
wind turbine · natural gas plant · solar farm · solar panel · steam engine
atomic, pile, atom, atoms, atomize, atomized, atomizer, atomization, atomism