Berlin 2008 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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AKA: Arbeitskreis Physik und Abrüstung

AKA 8: Detection and Verification

AKA 8.2: Vortrag

Freitag, 29. Februar 2008, 11:45–12:15, H 0110

Implications of medical isotope production on nuclear arms control — •Britta Riechmann and Martin Kalinowski — Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker Zentrum für Naturwissenschaft und Friedensforschung, Universität Hamburg

Most isotopes that are used for medical applications are produced from targets of highly enriched uranium (HEU). This has two implications for nuclear arms control. HEU can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons and the release of fission gases interferes with the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). While the global demand of HEU for research reactors is declining, the use of HEU for medical isotope production is increasing and likely hitting an annual consumption level of 100 kg soon. Most radioactivity is removed by chemical separation and as a result the radiation barrier is low. The radioactive xenon that is used as atmospheric indicator for nuclear explosions. A single extraction plant can release in the order of 1015 Bq of xenon-133 per year. In addition, due to the short irradiation time, the isotopic signature is similar to that of nuclear explosions.