apparatus, setup - equipment designed to serve a specific function

atomic pile, atomic reactor, chain reactor, pile - a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fission to generate energy

breeder reactor - a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it burns

control rod - a steel or aluminum rod that can be moved up or down to control the rate of the nuclear reaction

core - the chamber of a nuclear reactor containing the fissile material where the reaction takes place

fast reactor - nuclear reactor in which nuclear fissions are caused by fast neutrons because little or no moderator is used

gas-cooled reactor - a nuclear reactor using gas as a coolant

liquid metal reactor - a nuclear reactor using liquid metal as a coolant

thermal reactor - a nuclear reactor in which nuclear fissions are caused by neutrons that are slowed down by a moderator

fusion reactor, thermonuclear reactor - a nuclear reactor that uses controlled nuclear fusion to generate energy

water-cooled reactor - nuclear reactor using water as a coolant

natural philosophy, physical science, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions

moderator - any substance used to slow down neutrons in nuclear reactors