sub-critical

Fortunately for the nuke boys, they had access to historical test results of full, representative systems and they can still do sub-critical testing on components and assemblies, their problem is a bit easier in that regard than the climate one.

Climate Science is an Experimental Science | Serendipity 2010

The same molten salt also contains fuel which, when added to a sub-critical core (I think they usually call it a “mat”) creates a critical mass that creates the sustained nuclear reaction.

Think Progress » After warmest January in history, Vancouver airlifts in snow for Winter Olympics. 2010

The sub-critical blanket consists of uranium-thorium (U-Th) oxide fuel pellets (1: 9 U: Th, the U enriched up to almost 20%) in 228 Zr-1%Nb cladding tubes 8.4 mm in diameter — four layers around the center portion.

Thorium 2009

My personal experience is that my non-profit HMO has no trouble distinguishing between useful and useless tests, moves quickly to treat possible problems, and pro-actively works to involve clients in making smart, long-term choices e.g., counseling and tighter follow-up testing for sub-critical blood sugar readings that suggest diabetes more likely a few years downstream.

Nobody Speaking, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty 2009

The neutrons cause fission in the fuel, but unlike in a conventional nuclear reactor, the fuel is sub-critical, and fission ceases when the accelerator is turned off.

Advanced nuclear power reactors 2009

Thus, a spallation source plus a sub-critical fast reactor can be a copious source of fast neutrons.

The Philosopher's Stone James Killus 2008

Read about thorium "sub-critical" nuclear reactors.

Archive 2008-03-01 Michael Caddell 2008

Thus, a spallation source plus a sub-critical fast reactor can be a copious source of fast neutrons.

Archive 2008-02-01 James Killus 2008

A mass that is sub-critical for fast neutrons can be more than critical for slow neutrons.

Archive 2007-07-01 James Killus 2007

Moreover, the F/F reactor can be made sub-critical, since the fusion reactions supply the control factor that is usually accomplished by the delayed neutrons from fission.

Archive 2007-06-01 James Killus 2007