Subcriticial nuclear reactors have been considered an alternative to conventional nuclear reactors for years. Development and operation of high-power SRF particle accelerators at two US national laboratories allows us to consider a less-expensive nuclear reactor that operates without the need for a critical core, fuel enrichment, or reprocessing.

I'll describe a reactor that without redesign will burn spent nuclear fuel, natural uranium, thorium, or surplus weapons material. I’ll talk about my company, Muons, Inc., and our history as an SBIR company devoted to a design of a future particle accelerator, the Muon Collder, and how innovations that came out of those R&D efforts have helped shape our vision of a new, sustainable, zero carbon footprint energy source to replace our current fossil fuel regime.