How Advances in Plutonium Fission Impact India?

June 24, 2024

By starting the core-loading process of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam on March 4, India made progress in its nuclear power program. India’s second part of its nuclear initiative, which is mostly focused on plutonium fission, has made a big step forward with this.

What is Plutonium Fission?

India’s first nuclear power plants used uranium isotopes and heavy-water reactors under pressure to make plutonium-239 (Pu-239) and electricity. When Pu-239 takes in a neutron, it changes into Pu-240 at a rate of 27–38%. When Pu-240 grabs another neutron, it could either split into two pieces or change into Pu-241. The way these isotopes behave and change is very important for both making energy and keeping nuclear plants safe.

What is the Significance of Pu-240?

The fact that pu-240 is found in reactors and the waste from nuclear weapons tests makes nuclear technology more difficult. As it can spontaneously fission, giving off alpha rays, this isotope is thought to be a contamination in plutonium used for weapons. The prompt fission neutron spectrum (PFNS) of Pu-240 has been studied in more depth recently, especially by schools like LANSCE in the U.S. This information is important for improving nuclear models and reactor designs.

Research Findings and Implications

A new study found differences between what was expected and what was measured for PFNS in Pu-240, mainly when neutron energies were higher. These results help make nuclear data libraries like ENDF, JEFF, and JENDL more accurate. These libraries are important for nuclear study and applications, such as nuclear medicine, reactor design, and safety assessments.

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