[ RadSafe ] Article on Wired on Thorium reactors

Minnema, Douglas Douglas.Minnema at nnsa.doe.gov
Thu Jul 7 23:48:49 CEST 2005


Jaro and Franz,

My recollection is that supposedly India had worked on thorium-based
reactors, probably in the 1960's or 1970's, since they had a lot of it
around.  I don't think they still use them today, probably somebody else
here knows better.

As for U-233 in weapons, it's probably been tested somewhere in the world.
But the big problem is that the high gamma radiation levels emitted by the
U-233 makes storage and handling of the material and the devices very
problematic.  Much more so than other alternatives.  Not good if you want to
build a lasting stockpile and deploy them conventionally.

Doug Minnema




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