Hamburg 2009 – scientific programme

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AGA: Arbeitsgruppe Physik und Abrüstung

AGA 4: Fissile Material and Proliferation Resistance

AGA 4.2: Talk

Thursday, March 5, 2009, 15:00–15:30, VMP 9 HS

Neutronics Calculations to Assess and Strengthen the Proliferation Resistance of Nuclear Technologies — •Matthias Englert and Wolfgang Liebert — IANUS, TU-Darmstadt, Hochschulstr. 4a, 64289 Darmstadt

Ambivalent nuclear technologies use or have a potential to produce nuclear weapon relevant material like highly enriched uranium, U233, plutonium and tritium. Three different cases for such technologies representing current, cutting edge and future technologies are assessed with regard to their proliferation potential and a focus on measures to strengthen their proliferations resistence. The assessment is carried out with the help of neutronics simulations. First we present results for the conversion of high flux research reactors to the use of low enriched uranium with the new simulation package developed in our group. Secondly the potential of spallation neutron sources to produce U233, plutonium and tritium is assed. Thirdly we briefly discuss the proliferation potential of the future use of fusion power plants. Finally the analysis of the three technologies is compared to explicate on this exemplary basis general criteria for the proliferation resistant use of nuclear technologies.