Quinnan Hetrick is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Ohio State University, where her work focuses on physics-constrained digital twin development for nuclear reactor systems. Her research integrates reactor kinetics and machine learning for real-time predictive monitoring for research reactors. She has previously conducted research at Argonne National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory, with experience in image denoising, additive manufacturing for nuclear applications, and computational modeling. She serves as the Treasurer of her university’s Graduate Society of Women Engineers and as an active member of the American Nuclear Society.
Lecture: Fundamental Reactor Physics: Kinetics and Feedback Mechanisms
Reactor behavior is largely governed by the fundamental physical processes that drive neutron interactions, reactor control, and fuel burnup. Reactor kinetics describes how neutron populations change over time and provides the basis for understanding transient responses. These dynamic behaviors are closely coupled with feedback mechanisms like fuel temperature, moderator density, and buildup effects, which need to be accounted for when maintaining reactor stability and safety. This talk will provide an introduction to fundamental reactor physics, prompt vs. delayed neutrons, reactivity, feedback mechanisms, and reactor control, highlighting their role in reactor operation and safety.