A supercritical state occurs when a nuclear reactor's conditions exceed the point of criticality, leading to a rapid and uncontrolled increase in the number of fission reactions. This state results in a situation where the reactor produces more neutrons than are absorbed, causing a chain reaction that can escalate quickly and potentially result in a meltdown or explosion. Achieving a supercritical state is crucial in nuclear physics because it is necessary for sustaining power generation in reactors but must be carefully managed to prevent catastrophic failures.
congrats on reading the definition of Supercritical State. now let's actually learn it.