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subcritical Definition

sub·criti·cal (-krit′i kəl)

adjective

  1. less than critical
  2. unable to sustain a fission chain reaction: said of a nuclear reactor, device, etc.

subcritical Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • bifurcation: The first bifurcation of the vertically upward position is a " reverse " subcritical pitchfork bifurcation denoted by PF2.
  • experiment: The sixth subcritical experiment, Clarinet, took place on 9 February, 1999.
  • test: On August 29, the United States conducted its eighteenth subcritical nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site.
  • testing: The US government insists that subcritical testing is consistent with the zero yield CTBT.
  • behavior: Subcritical behavior gives rise to small basins of attraction and thus limits the control performance.
  • steam: Again, the main technology used is pulverized coal combustion with subcritical steam.