Development of delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy for nuclear material evaluation; Project overview

Rodriguez, D. C. ; Koizumi, Mitsuo ; Lee, H.-J.; Rossi, F.  ; Takahashi, Tone; Abbas, K.*; Nonneman, S.*; Oberstedt, S.*; Pedersen, B.*; Schillebeeckx, P.*

Within the MEXT subsidy for promoting nuclear security related activities, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is developing Delayed Gamma-ray Spectroscopy (DGS) that can be used to evaluate the fissile content in small samples. Nuclear material accountancy is challenging for mixed nuclear materials, especially those containing fission products and minor actinides are even more challenging since they hide the direct passive U and Pu signatures. This presentation describes the scope of the challenges we are addressing; our experimental campaigns, including those with the European Commission Joint Research Centre; and our final goal of developing a DGS instrument to interrogate the small samples found in reprocessing and MOX fuel fabrication plants.