Glossary Terms

A reactor that uses molten salt as coolant, and in some designs as the fuel carrier. MSRs can operate at high temperatures and low pressures, improving efficiency and potentially reducing complexity.

A fission reactor that runs on fast neutrons instead of thermalized ones. Fast reactors can use recycled fuel and help reduce long-lived nuclear waste by “burning” transuranics.

An advanced fission design that combines TRISO fuel with molten fluoride salt coolant. The salt operates at high temperature and low pressure, enabling efficient heat delivery and strong inherent [...]

A very small nuclear fission reactor (typically 1–20 MW) designed for factory fabrication and rapid deployment. Microreactors can provide resilient, off-grid power for remote communities, [...]

A subset of fast reactors that uses liquid sodium as coolant.

A fast reactor that uses liquid lead or lead-bismuth as coolant.

The percentage of time a plant generates power at its maximum output over a period. Nuclear plants typically have high capacity factors, making them reliable providers of carbon-free electricity.

Superconducting magnets that operate at higher temperatures than earlier generations, enabling smaller, higher-field fusion devices.

A hybrid fusion approach that magnetizes plasma and then compresses it rapidly to achieve fusion conditions.

A compact fusion plasma configuration with a self-contained magnetic field.