Bhabha Atomic Research Centre

Homi J. Bhabha established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in January 1954 to carry out multidisciplinary research needed for India's nuclear programme. After Bhabha's death in 1966, AEET was renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. BARC describes self-reliance in nuclear science and engineering as a central aim. Its research and development spans reactor technologies, fuel reprocessing and waste management, isotope applications, radiation technologies, accelerators, lasers, electronics, instrumentation, materials science and basic and applied science.

BARC's research reactors have supported different scientific and technical activities over time. Apsara achieved criticality on 4 August 1956 and was the first research reactor in Asia to do so; the original reactor was permanently shut down in June 2009. The upgraded Apsara-U achieved its first approach to criticality on 10 September 2018. BARC says it is used for nuclear physics, materials science and radiation-shielding research and is intended to support indigenous radioisotope production. Dhruva serves as a national facility for neutron-beam research, with collaborative projects involving researchers from BARC, other Department of Atomic Energy units, universities and national laboratories. The CIRUS reactor, commissioned in 1960, was used for neutron-beam research, materials irradiation, fuel testing, isotope production and training before its permanent shutdown in December 2010.

Research reactors are distinct from power reactors: their principal role is to provide neutrons for research and applications rather than generate electricity. The International Atomic Energy Agency describes uses including isotope production for medical applications, elemental analysis, materials development, imaging and workforce training. BARC's published descriptions of its facilities identify research, neutron activation analysis, neutron radiography, detector testing, shielding experiments and radioisotope production among their uses. These examples illustrate the combination of basic science, applied research and technical capability associated with the centre.