Stable Noble Gas Isotopes for Strengthening Nuclear Safeguards: The Measurement Point of View

The lAEA is currently investigating new technologies to strengthen the effectiveness of its inspection and verification activities. In particular, the IAEA is looking for new methods and instruments, applicable to the detection of undeclared nuclear activities and facilities. Noble gases are produced during nuclear fission and are commonly released during reprocessing of the nuclear fuel. Recently, the IAEA Department of Safeguards held a Co-ordinated Expert Meeting on Noble Gas Monitoring at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, to review the applicability of noble gas sampling, analysis and monitoring for IAEA safeguards. A feasibility study was performed at the EC-JRC¿Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) in cooperation with the ECJRC-Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU.) This study investigated the potential to identify reprocessing activities by means of isotopic measurements of xenon and krypton. The KORIGEN code and the SCALE program were used to calculate the nuclear inventory of spent fuel for two scenarios involving high burn-up fuel, as well as for two scenarios that could be used for production of weapons-grade plutonium (low burn-up).

AREGBE Yetunde;  VALKIERS Staf;  MAYER Klaus;  VARLAM Mihai;  WELLUM R.; 

2008-05-06

European Safeguards Research and Development Association

JRC45255

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC45255,