Atomic energy, also known as nuclear energy, is derived from the reactions of atomic nuclei. It is produced during nuclear reactions, which can occur through either nuclear fission or fusion.
Nuclear fission is a process where a heavy nucleus splits into two or more lighter nuclei, along with the release of energy. This process is utilized in nuclear reactors and atomic bombs.
Nuclear fusion involves the combining of two or more lighter nuclei to form a heavier nucleus. This reaction only occurs at extremely high temperatures (greater than 106 K) and is thus referred to as thermonuclear. In hydrogen bombs, a mixture of Deuterium Oxide (DO) and Tritium Oxide (TO) surrounds an ordinary atom bomb.
Nuclear reactors are devices designed to maintain a chain reaction that produces a steady flow of neutrons from the fission of heavy nuclei. They are categorized as either research reactors or power reactors.
In nuclear power plants, uranium fuel undergoes fission, generating immense heat. This heat produces high-pressure steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. Light Water Reactors (LWRs) use normal water as both a coolant and a moderator. The coolant removes the heat from the reactor core, while the moderator slows down the neutrons to sustain the chain reaction. Control rods manage the reactor's power by limiting excessive fission. The reactor containment vessel, made of steel, houses the reactor pressure vessel, and the primary water loop transfers heat to the secondary cooling system, which generates steam to drive turbines.
The Atomic Energy Bill of 1948 led to the establishment of the Atomic Energy Commission on August 10, 1948, with Dr. Homi J. Bhabha as its first Chairman. This commission was responsible for formulating and implementing atomic energy policies. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was created on August 3, 1954, under the Prime Minister's direct oversight. On January 3, 1954, the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), was founded and renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in 1967. BARC oversees nuclear reactor research and technology development in India.
Dr. Homi J. Bhabha outlined a three-stage nuclear power program aimed at utilizing domestic resources:
This reactor will use thorium-based mixed oxide fuel with a small amount of plutonium. It involves developing indigenous equipment for producing thorium dioxide powder and conducting trials with uranium dioxide, relevant for future 500 MW PHWRs.
Atomic accelerators increase the speed of atomic particles, enabling their use in radioisotopy and isotope formation.
In unstable atoms, the nucleus releases a neutron to regain stability, emitting radiation in the process. Such isotopes are known as radioisotopes. All elements with atomic numbers greater than 83 are inherently radioactive, possessing unstable nuclei. Elements with atomic numbers 83 and below have stable isotopes but may also have at least one radioactive isotope. As radioisotopes seek stability, they may undergo transmutation, transforming into new elements. Radioisotopes, by definition, are unstable and emit radiation, while not all isotopes are radioactive.
Radiocarbon dating estimates the age of organic materials such as wood, charcoal, shells, bone, and sediments. Age determination is based on comparing the amount of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in a sample. Radiation counters detect the electrons emitted by decaying carbon-14, which helps in dating artifacts.
A tokamak is a device that uses a magnetic field to confine plasma in a torus shape. Achieving a stable plasma requires magnetic fields in a helical configuration, produced by combining toroidal and poloidal fields. Invented in the 1950s by Soviet physicists Igor Tamm and Andrei Sakharov, the term "tokamak" is short for "Toroidal Chamber Magnetic" in Russian.
ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is an international project constructing the largest experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor in France. Its goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a viable power source without adverse effects.
Managing radioactive waste involves complex procedures due to its hazardous nature and strict regulatory requirements. India has developed self-reliant methods for managing radioactive waste. Following the Fukushima disaster in 2011, there has been local opposition to nuclear projects in India, such as the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
India, as the sixth nuclear power, conducted its first test on May 18, 1974, in Pokhran, Rajasthan, named "Smiling Buddha." On May 11 and 13, 1998, India conducted five tests under Operation "Shakti," including fission, low-yield, and thermonuclear devices.
The NPT aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, encourage peaceful nuclear cooperation, and advance disarmament. Effective since 1970 and extended indefinitely in 1995, it includes the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China as nuclear weapon states. India, Pakistan, Israel, and South Sudan have not signed the treaty.
India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), established on January 4, 2003, consists of three tiers: the Political Council (headed by the Prime Minister, authorizing nuclear use), the Executive Council (headed by the National Security Advisor, providing inputs for decisions), and the Strategic Forces Command (responsible for nuclear force administration and operations).
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions and was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 10, 1996. It has not yet entered into force due to the lack of ratification by eight specific states. India, Pakistan, and North Korea have not signed it, and six other states have signed but not ratified it.
India argues that the CTBT should prevent both horizontal and vertical proliferation, avoid dividing nations into nuclear haves and have-nots, and address concerns about intrusive verification methods and the use of satellite technology.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, a joint Russia-India project in Tamil Nadu, faces local opposition due to concerns over the environmental impact of hot water discharge on marine life.
Known as the Nuclear Ban Treaty, it is the first legally binding agreement to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons. Adopted on July 7, 2017, it required ratification by at least 50 countries to take effect. As of June 2020, 38 states had ratified it. The treaty was established under the UN General Assembly on December 23, 2016.
On October 5, 2018, during President Vladimir Putin’s visit, India and Russia signed an Action Plan for cooperation in the nuclear sector, planning the development of six nuclear plants in India.
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1. What is atomic energy and how is it used in nuclear reactors? |
2. What is the mechanism of nuclear power generation? |
3. How has nuclear energy developed in India over the years? |
4. What is the significance of a tokamak in nuclear energy research? |
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