David’s work explores a range of safety matters such as the nature of sub-critical reactor operation, the independence of the neutron source and critical and accelerator-driven reactor shutdown considerations. Some of his work was published in a paper co-authored by Dr Geoff Parks of the Energy Group, “Safety implications of reactivity variations in fast thorium ADSRs,” in Annals of Nuclear Energy.

His most striking work was in the demonstration of the effects of flux-dependent movements in the nuclide equilibrium populations for thorium fuel, which can allow for a reactor to independently undergo a criticality excursion in the days following a shutdown. In plain terms the reactor has the potential to re-engage the fission chain reaction and re-start itself both independent of, and beyond the influence of outside intervention.

Since completing his PhD at Cambridge, David has worked as Project Manager at Jacobs UK Ltd. He has been active in a number of fields in addition to continuing to pursue his nuclear reasearch activities, including integrity checking of nuclear calculations, writing safety standards and procedures for companies, construction and commissioning.

The Department of Engineering congratulates David on his achievement.