Physics Project By:- Raj Kamlesh Jain

Contents Early life Education Contributions 3 Stage Nuclear programme Notable Awards Death (1) Homi Jehangir Bhabha

Early Life The founding director of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment, Homi J. Bhabha was born on 30 th October 1909 to wealthy parsi parents named Jahangir Bhabha and Mehreen and the former was a well known lawyer educated from the Oxford university. (2)

Received his early education from Bombay’s Cathedral and John Connon School. 1927: Attended Institute of Science in Mumbai Later studied at Caius college of Cambridge university (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Contributions Known as the father of the nuclear program Homi J. Bhabha is credited for his achievement in establishment of the nuclear program in India. Cirus Reactor Bhabha Scattering

A second nuclear reactor to be built in India it produced the country’s major nuclear weapons using Plutonium. Using heavy water (deuterium oxide) and supplied by Canada the reactor could produce around 6.6 – 10.5 Kg of Plutonium – 244 a year. (10) (9)

In 1937, he published a paper in collaboration with W. Heitler about particles produced in the upper atmosphere as observed from the ground when they interacted with cosmic rays. This theory published was based on Bhabha scattering which determines the probability of scattering of protons with the help of electrons. (11) (12)

India’s 3 stage nuclear power programme – By Homi J. Bhabha First Stage: Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor Second Stage: Fast Breeder Reactor Third Stage: Thorium Based Reactors (13)

Introduction Designed and implemented by Homi Bhabha in 1950 it focused on the use of thorium instead of uranium due to the shortage of the latter in India (1 – 2% of the global reserves). The country still holds the largest reserves of thorium (~25% of the world’s shares). FUN FACT: Thorium cannot undergo fission to produce energy. (13) (14)

Stage I – Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor This stage involved the input of Natural Uranium. The above element contains only 0.7% of fissile isotope Uranium – 235. Thus, heavy water was used as a moderator. Natural Uranium was used to produce electricity and plutonium – 239. Plutonium -239 was generated as a by product with the help of 99.3% Uranium in natural Uranium (15) (16)

Stage II – Fast Breeder Reactor As the name suggests, this stage involved more of output than input. The first prototype of FBR was designed at Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, India. This reactor used the MOX fuel (contains the Oxide of fissile elements like Plutonium -239, Depleted Uranium, Processed Uranium). This reactor not only transmuted uranium -238 to give Plutonium – 239 but also Plutonium underwent fission to give out energy. (17) (18)

Stage III – Thorium Based Reactors This reactor was used to generate electricity with the help of Thorium -232 transmuted to Uranium – 233 with the help of Plutonium – 239 generated in the first two stages. Although Plutonium – 239 could be used to generate electricity, Uranium – 233 was more productive and efficient. (19) (20)

Notable Awards He was awarded the Padma Bhushan award, the third highest civilian award in India by the government in He was also awarded the Adams Prize in He was also fellow of the Royal Society, London. (21)

Death He passed away on 24 January 1966 in a plane crash near Mont Blanc. A sculpture of Homi Bhabha placed in BITS, Museum India (22) (23)

Bibliography (1): habha_1960s.jpg (2): (3): (4): (5): Sciences-Mumbai.jpg (6): (7): East_Corner_of_Waterhouse_Building,_Tree_Court,_Gonville_%26_Caius_(full ).jpg

Bibliography (8): (9): BRSC_313740f.jpg (10) (11) (12) (13) stage_nuclear_power_programme (14)

Bibliography (15): (16): (17): (18): (19): (20): (21): (22): (23):