Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment

Osborn, Jeremy M.; Glennon, Kevin J.; Kitcher, Evans D.; Burns, Jonathan D.; Folden, III, Charles M.; Chirayath, Sunil S.

doi:10.1016/j.net.2018.04.017

Title: Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment

Abstract

The growing nuclear threat has amplified the need for developing diverse and accurate nuclear forensics analysis techniques to strengthen nuclear security measures. The work presented here is part of a research effort focused on developing a methodology for reactor-type discrimination of weapons-grade plutonium. To verify the developed methodology, natural UO₂ fuel samples were irradiated in a thermal neutron spectrum at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) and produced approximately 20 μg of weapons-grade plutonium test material. Radiation transport simulations of common thermal reactor types that can produce weapons-grade plutonium were performed, and the results are presented here. These simulations were needed to verify whether the plutonium produced in the natural UO₂ fuel samples during the experimental irradiation at MURR was a suitable representative to plutonium produced in common thermal reactor types. Also presented are comparisons of fission product and plutonium concentrations obtained from computational simulations of the experimental irradiation at MURR to the nondestructive and destructive measurements of the irradiated natural UO₂ fuel samples. Gamma spectroscopy measurements of radioactive fission products were mostly within 10%, mass spectroscopy measurements of the total plutonium mass were within 4%, and mass spectroscopy measurements of stable fission products were mostly within 5%.

Authors:

Osborn, Jeremy M.; Glennon, Kevin J.; Kitcher, Evans D.;

; Folden, III, Charles M.; Chirayath, Sunil S.

Publication Date:: Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:: Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

OSTI Identifier:: 1591941

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1501541

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0003180; NA0000979

Resource Type:: Published Article

Journal Name:: Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Name: Nuclear Engineering and Technology Journal Volume: 50 Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 1738-5733

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: Korea, Republic of

Language:: English

Subject:: 73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS; Neutron Irradiation; Nuclear Forensics; Weapons-grade Plutonium

Citation Formats


                    Osborn, Jeremy M., Glennon, Kevin J., Kitcher, Evans D., Burns, Jonathan D., Folden, III, Charles M., and Chirayath, Sunil S. Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment.  Korea, Republic of: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.net.2018.04.017.

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                    Osborn, Jeremy M., Glennon, Kevin J., Kitcher, Evans D., Burns, Jonathan D., Folden, III, Charles M., & Chirayath, Sunil S. Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment.  Korea, Republic of.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2018.04.017

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                    Osborn, Jeremy M., Glennon, Kevin J., Kitcher, Evans D., Burns, Jonathan D., Folden, III, Charles M., and Chirayath, Sunil S. Wed .  
"Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment".  Korea, Republic of.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2018.04.017.

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@article{osti_1591941,

  title        = {Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment},

  author       = {Osborn, Jeremy M. and Glennon, Kevin J. and Kitcher, Evans D. and Burns, Jonathan D. and Folden, III, Charles M. and Chirayath, Sunil S.},

  abstractNote = {The growing nuclear threat has amplified the need for developing diverse and accurate nuclear forensics analysis techniques to strengthen nuclear security measures. The work presented here is part of a research effort focused on developing a methodology for reactor-type discrimination of weapons-grade plutonium. To verify the developed methodology, natural UO2 fuel samples were irradiated in a thermal neutron spectrum at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) and produced approximately 20 μg of weapons-grade plutonium test material. Radiation transport simulations of common thermal reactor types that can produce weapons-grade plutonium were performed, and the results are presented here. These simulations were needed to verify whether the plutonium produced in the natural UO2 fuel samples during the experimental irradiation at MURR was a suitable representative to plutonium produced in common thermal reactor types. Also presented are comparisons of fission product and plutonium concentrations obtained from computational simulations of the experimental irradiation at MURR to the nondestructive and destructive measurements of the irradiated natural UO2 fuel samples. Gamma spectroscopy measurements of radioactive fission products were mostly within 10%, mass spectroscopy measurements of the total plutonium mass were within 4%, and mass spectroscopy measurements of stable fission products were mostly within 5%.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.net.2018.04.017},

  journal      = {Nuclear Engineering and Technology},

  number       = 6,

  volume       = 50,

  place        = {Korea, Republic of},

  year         = {Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018},

  month        = {Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018}

}

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Cited by: 10 works

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Table 1: Natural uranium fueled thermal reactors not under IAEA safeguards [5-12].

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Discrimination of weapons-grade plutonium from thermal reactors in nuclear forensics
journal, September 2019

Nikolaou, G.; Biegalski, S. R.
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 322, Issue 2
DOI: 10.1007/s10967-019-06810-4

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Title: Computational and experimental forensics characterization of weapons-grade plutonium produced in a thermal neutron environment

Abstract

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Figures / Tables:

Discrimination of weapons-grade plutonium from thermal reactors in nuclear forensics journal, September 2019

Discrimination of weapons-grade plutonium from thermal reactors in nuclear forensics
journal, September 2019