Its primary function is to intensely bombard samples of materials and fuels with neutrons to replicate long-term exposure to high levels of radiation, as would be present after years in a commercial nuclear reactor. The ATR is one of only four test reactors in the world with this capability.
The main objective of this apparatus is to subject samples of materials and fuels to neutron bombardments at high intensities, replicating the long-term exposure to radiation found in commercial nuclear reactors over many years. The ATR is among the few test reactors globally with this capability.