The Reed Research Reactor: A Regional Resource
James Butler (Pacific University) & Jerry Newhouse (Reed College)
April 2026
Introduction
At the conclusion of this presentation the listener should:
Founded in 1908
Approx 1,400 undergraduate students
Mathematics and natural sciences is
the largest division with about 30% of
students.
Encourages breadth of knowledge
across the curriculum.
Research Reactors in General
Any nuclear reactor that is primarily used for research rather than
power generation.
Powers range from a fraction of a watt to 10 megawatts at
universities; up to 250 megawatts at Idaho National Lab.
A generic power plant has a power of about 3,000 megawatts.
We are sources of neutron and gamma radiation, and teaching tools.
24 colleges and universities in the United States operate 25 research
reactors. In the western US, there are two in Oregon, one in
Washington, two in California, one in Idaho, and one in Utah.
Research Reactors - TRIGA
There are a variety of designs of university research reactors, but about half of us are TRIGA reactors.
Training
Research
Isotopes
General
Atomics
While they fulfill a range of research functions,
TRIGA reactors are specifically designed such
that 19 year-olds can push the buttons and safely
see what happens.
Reed Research Reactor
Reed’s radiochemistry program began in 1947
Various high-intensity radioactive sources and a sub-critical
natural uranium “pickle barrel” reactor throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s
TRIGA reactor founded in 1968, costing $321k ($2.7M today)
Maximum power of 250kW (remember power plants are ~3,000MW)
Initially intended to support radiochemistry and training
Training included not only Reed students, but also students from
other institutions in the area
Reed Research Reactor Training – Our Niche
The Reed training program is considered to be one of the best, if not the best, in the country. Even though I previously said there are 25 university reactors, there are actually several privately or Federally owned equivalent reactors for a total of
31 NRC regulated research reactors in the country.
Out of these 31 reactors, Reed is routinely
responsible for ~25% of operator licenses with
nearly 100% success.
While all research reactors can do many things, we
mostly all have our niche. Ours is training.
Reed Research Reactor – Research
Capabilities
Why irradiate samples?
neutron activation analysis
radiation damage materials testing
isotope production
How do we irradiate them?
rotary specimen rack
pneumatic transfer system
(coming soon) neutron beam
gamma irradiations using the Cs-137 source
Reed Research Reactor – Irradiation Methods
Reed Research Reactor – NAA
Neutron Activation Analysis is a non-destructive method of elemental
composition analysis that takes advantage of the unique energies of gamma
rays each gamma-radioactive nuclide emits.
For example, Co-60 emits 1.174 and 1.332 MeV gammas. Since it is the only
nuclide that emits those unique rays, if they are detected we know they were
emitted by Co-60.
NAA has extremely low detection limits, often in the ppb, but sometimes
ppt, and is frequently used for trace element analysis.
NAA is also particularly suited to detecting lanthanides, which I’m told is
relatively difficult to do using traditional chemical techniques.
Reed Research Reactor –
NAA
For example, gold is known to emit a
gamma ray with an energy of 411keV.
If this were an unknown sample, we
could compare the measured energy to
tables of gamma energies and identify
it as Au-198.
The other peak with higher energy is
likely Al-28 with a 1779keV gamma.
Gold flux foils are typically an Au-Al
alloy.
Reed Research Reactor – NAA Applications
Recent work using NAA at Reed has focused on measurements of trace pollutants captured by plants in the environment. Students were able to measure residual material left behind by the use of chemical weapons against protestors in downtown Portland, roadside pollution mostly from brake pad wear, and heavy metals absorbed by algae in the Columbia River estuary.
We’ve also used NAA to analyze the purity of materials being used in a new design of nuclear batteries. Nuclear batteries are commonly used to power spacecraft. Current nuclear batteries are a type called RTGs that are based on Pu-238. With plutonium reserves dwindling, a new generation of batteries that don’t use such a fraught power source are needed.
Reed Research Reactor – Who Can Use It
Hopefully you! I am actively inviting you to talk more with me about how you and your students can use it. The reactor was built with the assumption that it would be a regional resource that many professors, researchers, and students from schools without reactors could come and use.
Recently, we’ve routinely had collaboration with folks from Pacific University, Portland Community College, and Warner Pacific University.