Neutron activation

The process by which a material struck by neutrons becomes radioactive itself, because some of its atoms absorb a neutron and turn into an unstable isotope. Fusion neutrons and fission neutrons both activate the structures around them; the resulting waste is a different problem from spent fuel, since it is the reactor's own materials rather than the fuel that becomes radioactive. Choosing structural materials that activate less, or decay faster, is a major line of nuclear materials research for both fission and fusion.

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