Thorium fuel cycle

The thorium fuel cycle uses neutron capture and radioactive decay to convert fertile thorium-232 into fissile uranium-233, which can sustain nuclear fission.

Thorium-232: A naturally occurring, fertile isotope that can absorb a neutron and eventually become uranium-233. It is the starting material irradiated to initiate the cycle.
Fertile material: Nuclear material that can be converted into fissile material by neutron absorption and subsequent reactions. Thorium-232 belongs to this category rather than being fissile fuel itself.
Thorium-based nuclear power: Nuclear energy systems that use thorium as fertile feed material to produce fissile fuel. It is the broad energy application of the thorium fuel cycle.
Uranium fuel cycle: The set of processes that mine, prepare, use, and manage uranium fuels for nuclear energy. It is the dominant alternative, relying primarily on uranium isotopes rather than thorium feed.
Neutron capture: A nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus absorbs a neutron. Capture by thorium-232 begins its conversion toward fissile uranium-233.
Fissile material: Material capable of sustaining a neutron-driven fission chain reaction under suitable conditions. Uranium-233 is the fissile product that makes the cycle useful as a fuel cycle.
Molten salt reactor: A fission reactor that uses molten salt as fuel, coolant, or both. Some designs can dissolve thorium and bred uranium in circulating fuel salt.
Plutonium fuel cycle: A nuclear fuel cycle that produces and uses plutonium, commonly through uranium irradiation and reprocessing. It provides a different breeding route and fissile material from the thorium-to-uranium pathway.
Thorium-233: A short-lived radioactive isotope formed when thorium-232 captures a neutron. It is the first isotope in the conversion chain after neutron capture.
Beta decay: Radioactive decay in which a neutron converts into a proton or a proton into a neutron, emitting a beta particle. Two successive beta decays transform thorium-233 into uranium-233.

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