Abstract
The Finnish Triga reactor, FiR 1, has been in operation since 1962. From
its early days the reactor
created versatile research to support both the national nuclear program as
well as generally the industry and
health care sector. The volume of neutron activation analysis was impressive
in the 70’s and 80’s. Production of
short lived isotopes for tracer studies is still an important application of
the reactor with increasing amounts of
isotopes produced, normally twice a week.
In the 1990’s a Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) treatment facility was
build at the FiR 1 reactor. The
treatment environment is of world top quality after a major renovation of the
whole reactor building in 1997.
Over 150 patient irradiations have been performed since May 1999. FiR 1 is one
of the few facilities in the world
providing this kind of treatments. Due to the BNCT project FiR 1 has become an
important research and
education unit for medical physics. Education and training play also a role at
FiR 1 in the form of university
courses and training of nuclear industry personnel.
A long term strategy is being worked out for FiR 1 by VTT and its proprietor
the Ministry of Employment and
the Economy supported by an independent survey of an outside consultant. The
independent survey recommends
operation of the reactor till 2016 to enable continuation of the promising
development of the BNCT treatment in
parallel of developing accelerator based neutron sources for this treatment.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 4th World TRIGA Users Conference |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
MoE publication type | D3 Professional conference proceedings |
Event | 4th World Triga Users Conference - Lyon, France Duration: 8 Sept 2008 → 10 Sept 2008 |
Conference
Conference | 4th World Triga Users Conference |
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Country/Territory | France |
City | Lyon |
Period | 8/09/08 → 10/09/08 |