Uranium-233 is a fissile isotope of uranium that can be bred from thorium-232 in a nuclear reactor, making it a potential fuel for thorium-based nuclear power. It has a half-life of 159,200 years and can sustain a nuclear chain reaction, but its production and use are complicated by the presence of highly radioactive contaminants and proliferation concerns.

Uranium-233

Fissile isotope

Thorium-232 is a naturally occurring, fertile isotope of thorium that can be converted into the fissile isotope uranium-233 through neutron absorption and subsequent beta decay, making it a potential fuel for nuclear reactors. Its abundance and potential for producing less long-lived radioactive waste compared to uranium and plutonium make it an attractive option for sustainable nuclear energy production.

Thorium-232

A nuclear reactor is a device used to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction, primarily for generating electricity or for research purposes. It operates on the principle of nuclear fission, where the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a significant amount of energy in the form of heat, which is then used to produce steam that drives turbines for electricity generation.

Nuclear Reactor

Thorium-based nuclear power

Half-life is the time required for a quantity to reduce to half its initial value, commonly used to describe the decay of radioactive substances. It is a constant property for a given substance, indicating the rate of decay and helping to predict how long it will take for a substance to diminish to a certain level.

Half-life

A nuclear chain reaction occurs when a nuclear reaction causes additional reactions, leading to a self-sustaining series of reactions. This process is fundamental to both nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons, where it is carefully controlled or rapidly accelerated, respectively.

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