TRUE Miller

Abstract Quantum key distribution (QKD), a cryptographic method grounded in the laws of quantum mechanics rather than computational hardness, promises provably secure communications. Its integration into critical infrastructure offers a pathway to secure resilient operation of next-generation control systems, from power-intensive data centers to remotely operated microreactors located in energy-deprived remote communities.

Submitted: 10 February 2025 You are already at the latest version First demonstrated in 1942, subcritical and zero-power critical assemblies, also known as piles, are a fundamental tool for research and education at universities. Traditionally, their role has been primarily instructional and for measuring fundamental properties of neutron diffusion and transport. However, these assemblies could hold potential for modern applications and nuclear research.

2. Experimentation—Irradiation of PLA Samples with Gamma Radiation and Mixed-Field Gamma–Neutron Radiation This effort aimed to assess the combined and individual effects of absorbed gamma and neutron radiation types, respectively. As such, two types of irradiation sources were utilized: (1) Co-60 irradiator emitting ~1.1 MeV and ~1.2 MeV gamma photons; and (2) nuclear fission reactor—which provided a complex energy spectrum combination of neutrons and gamma photon radiation types.