Nuclear safeguards

In what way and how much do the military origins and uses of fission energy impact the prospects for revival ofthe nuclear power option Are they a serious impediment are they of little significance or is it just possible that, if fully understood, the military implications are a positive factor No assessment of the future of nuclear power can be complete without consideration ofthe military use issue, the essence of which is the potential spread of nuclear weapons to additional countries or even subnational entities. This paper reviews this issue, giving particular attention to international nuclear safeguards, certainly the most distinctive, and probably the most misunderstood feature of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency is the world s central intergovernmentalforum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field and is the international inspectorate for nuclear safeguards. 

Takahashi, M., Uchikoshi, S., Midorikawa, M., Ishikawa, M., and Adachi, T., Development of a digital-analog robotic system for input solution and mixed oxide samples, in International Nuclear Safeguards 1994 Vision for the Future, Volume 1 of 2, IAEA-SM-333/53, International Atomic Energy Association, Vienna, 1994, 761-767. 

In the 1950s the Nuclear Safeguards Program was established by the United Nations to administratively reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation. The objective of the Safeguards Program is to prevent the diversion of fissionable material, primarily plutonium,... 

Of special interest in the mass spectrometric determination of transuranium elements is the characterization of microparticles stemming from different radioactivity release scenarios. Such microparticles bearing radionuchdes, in particular uranium, plutonium, neptunium and americium, can enter the environment and therefore the human food chain through different processes which can be related to the nuclear fuel cycle as well as to clandestine nuclear activities. In addition, nuclear safeguards programmes seek to determine the uranium isotope abundances of individual p,m sized particles. Anomalous amounts of or may indicate that artificial isotope enrichment... 

Agu, B. and Iwamoto, H., Recent advances in safeguards operations, Nuclear Safeguards Technology 1982 (Proc. Symp. Vienna, 1982), Vol. 1, IAEA, Vienna (1983) 15. 

Handbook of Nuclear Safeguards Measurement Methods Rodgers, D.R., Ed. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC, 1983 NUREG/CR-2078. 

Many applications focus on the isotopic analysis of elements in environmental samples (water, rocks, soil, minerals), meteorites, biological tissues, and nuclear materials (such as nuclear fuels). A relatively new application has been the use of TIMS in nuclear safeguards and arms control treaty verification (IAEA, 2003). Of most interest to this discussion is the high quality isotopic analysis of actinide elements, especially U and Pu. Typical performance parameters are given in Table 17.6 for isotopic analysis of actinide elements and additional examples are given in Section 17.8. 

Linsley, G., and A. Fattah. 1994. The interface between nuclear safeguards and radioactive waste disposal Emerging issues. IAEA Bulletin 36(2) 22-26. 

Observation and Forecasting Systems Environmental Toxicology Nuclear Energy, Risk Analysis Nuclear Facilities Emergency Planning Nuclear Safeguards Radiation, Atmospheric Radiation Shielding and Protection Radioactive Wastes Radioactivity... 

Abstract This chapter deals with the "nuclear safeguards verification system and describes procedures and measurement methods that allow the safeguards inspectorates/authorities to verify that nuclear materials or facilities are not used to further undeclared military activities. These procedures and methods provide the strong technical basis upon which the safeguards inspectorates/authorities issue their conclusions and receive the broadest international acceptance regarding the compliance of participating states with their obligations. 

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