Technical support from the IAEA for improvement of operator's analytical quality for Safeguards

Okazaki, Hiro ; Sumi, Mika; Kayano, Masashi ; Matsuyama, Kazutomi; Suzuki, Toru 

The Plutonium Fuel Development Center of Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA-PFDC) received Japan's first plutonium in 1966 and commenced research to develop plutonium fuel as a key objective of the Japanese nuclear fuel cycle. Since then fundamental research with plutonium-bearing materials, and the development and fabrication of mixed uranium-plutonium oxide fuels, has been carried out. It is essential that the Operator's measurement quality be continually reviewed and improved for effective and efficient implementation of international Safeguards. In this context, and recognizing the excellent technical cooperation with IAEA measurement experts, JAEA-PFDC has continually worked to improve its measurement system. This paper will present examples of continual measurement improvement by JAEA-PFDC, and will show the benefit and effectiveness of technical support from IAEA towards this goal.