Breeding

Definition

Breeding in nuclear physics refers to the process of generating more fissile material from fertile material within a nuclear reactor. This is crucial for sustaining long-term nuclear reactions and producing fuel for reactors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Breeding involves converting fertile isotopes like $^{238}U$ into fissile isotopes like $^{239}Pu$.
2. The breeding ratio indicates the efficiency of a breeder reactor; it is the number of new fissile nuclei created per fission event.
3. Breeder reactors can be classified as fast breeders or thermal breeders based on the speed of neutrons used in the process.
4. Fast breeder reactors use fast neutrons to convert fertile material into fissile material and typically have higher breeding ratios than thermal breeders.
5. The breeding process can help extend the fuel supply for nuclear reactors by utilizing abundant fertile materials like thorium and uranium-238.

Review Questions

• What is the main purpose of breeding in a nuclear reactor?
• How does a fast breeder reactor differ from a thermal breeder reactor?
• What is the significance of the breeding ratio in nuclear physics?

Related terms

Fertile Material: Isotopes that are not themselves fissile but can be converted into fissile isotopes through neutron absorption and subsequent nuclear reactions, such as $^{238}U$ or $^{232}Th$.

Fissile Material: Isotopes capable of sustaining a nuclear chain reaction with slow (thermal) neutrons, such as $^{235}U$ or $^{239}Pu$.

Breeder Reactor:

A type of nuclear reactor designed to create more fissile material than it consumes by converting fertile isotopes into fissile isotopes.