fissileisotopit

Fissile isotopes are a group of atomic nuclei that can undergo nuclear fission when struck by a slow-moving neutron. This process releases a significant amount of energy, along with additional neutrons, which can then go on to cause further fission events in a chain reaction. The most common and important fissile isotopes are Uranium-235 (²³⁵U) and Plutonium-239 (²³⁹Pu). Other fissile isotopes exist, such as Uranium-233 (²³³U) and certain transuranic elements, but they are less prevalent or more difficult to produce. The ability of an isotope to be fissile is dependent on its nuclear structure, specifically the balance of protons and neutrons within the nucleus, and its cross-section for interaction with neutrons of specific energies. This property makes fissile isotopes crucial for the operation of nuclear reactors, where controlled chain reactions are used to generate electricity, and in nuclear weapons, where rapid, uncontrolled chain reactions produce an explosive yield. The rarity and specific production methods for some fissile isotopes contribute to their strategic importance in nuclear proliferation concerns.