International safeguards: Accounting for nuclear materials
Nuclear safeguards applied by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are one element of the non-proliferation regime'', the collection of measures whose aim is to forestall the spread of nuclear weapons to countries that do not already possess them. Safeguards verifications provide evidence that nuclear materials in peaceful use for nuclear-power production are properly accounted for. Though carried out in cooperation with nuclear facility operators, the verifications can provide assurance because they are designed with the capability to detect diversion, should it occur. Traditional safeguards verification measures conducted by inspectors of the IAEA include book auditing; counting and identifying containers of nuclear material; measuring nuclear material; photographic and video surveillance; and sealing. Novel approaches to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in safeguards verifications are under investigation as the number and complexity of nuclear facilities grow. These include the zone approach, which entails carrying out verifications for groups of facilities collectively, and randomization approach, which entails carrying out entire inspection visits some fraction of the time on a random basis. Both approaches show promise in particular situations, but, like traditional measures, must be tested to ensure their practical utility. These approaches are covered on this report. 15 refs., 16 figs., 3 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/NE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH00016
- OSTI ID:
- 6840191
- Report Number(s):
- BNL-52219; ON: DE90012751
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
AUDITS
EFFICIENCY
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FISSION PRODUCTS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HEAVY NUCLEI
IAEA
INSPECTION
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MEASURING METHODS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
NUCLEI
PLUTONIUM 239
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPES
RANDOMNESS
SAFEGUARDS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TREATIES
URANIUM 235
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
VERIFICATION
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES