Replacing neutrons with light: How INL is transforming advanced reactor development

Watch as thousands of LEDs light up to simulate the neutron physics inside a nuclear reactor. Researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are using ViBRANT to transform the development of advanced nuclear reactors by replacing neutrons with light. Coupled with real-world hardware and control systems in the Microreactor Automated Control System (MACS), ViBRANT bridges the gap between high-fidelity computer models and physical hardware. With ViBRANT and MACS, INL is helping industry design safe and efficient next-generation microreactors.