Built in 1975, our TRIGA Mark I reactor produces 100 kilowatts of thermal energy—heating the surrounding pool water and creating an intense radiation field ideal for research and training. While it does not generate electricity, it powers innovation in science, medicine, and technology across Utah and beyond.

Advancing Research and Innovation
The Utah TRIGA reactor supports a wide range of applications:

• Neutron Activation Analysis – Identifying the elemental makeup of materials for environmental and materials research
• Medical Isotope Production – Producing radioisotopes used in medical research, including promising treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases
• Radiation Hardness Testing – Evaluating live electronic systems under intense radiation for nuclear, aerospace, and defense applications
• Reactor Physics and Energy Density Analysis – Visualizing neutron population and energy generation within the reactor core

When powered on, the reactor emits a distinctive blue glow known as the Cherenkov Effect—produced when charged particles travel faster than the speed of light in water.

Hands-On Training for Future Nuclear Leaders
The TRIGA reactor is also an exceptional training ground for future nuclear professionals. Students gain hands-on experience operating the reactor, collecting data, and managing experiments under real-world conditions.

All operators undergo rigorous training and are examined by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission before earning their operator license—a credential that prepares them for careers at power reactors and national laboratories.