Proliferation Resistance of Advanced Sustainable Nuclear Fuel Cycles

摘要

It is argued that, aside from more favorable economics, the enhanced intrinsic and potential extrinsic proliferation-resistance attributes of future nuclear fuel cycles would enable nuclear reactors to become accepted within an international nonproliferation regime. With regard to intrinsic features, they should be thoroughly tested within the context of a cooperative international program. As to extrinsic properties, it seems clear that recent developments in system theory and information technology have yet to be fully embraced in national and international safeguards. In fact, it appears appropriate to reexamine the integrated role of operations accountability and C/S methods as a safeguards measure to compensate for some of the inherent limitations of material accountability. Discrete operations accountability, a material and operations tracking approach that could rely on richer DE formulations and model-based analysis methods, is postulated as an entirely new thrust toward a transparent safeguards regime. Demonstration of both intrinsic and extrinsic safeguards should proceed concurrently with prototype demonstrations to explore international benchmark activities in transparent safeguards that might set the stage for the next-generation of sustainable nuclear fuel cycle deployments.