SNM measurement uncertainties: Potential impacts for materials disposition

摘要

A brief discussion of various issues relative to nuclear measurement uncertainties and impacts to the Materials Disposition (MD) program is presented. Today's nuclear measurement technology is well situated to handle most of materials analysis concerns while controlling uncertainties to a high degree of confidence. However many of the options under consideration by the disposition program will present new challenges. Some of these challenges include significant material processing throughputs, a variety of material forms, unique waste streams, and difficult to measure matrices. There are also some questions as to a facility's ability to achieve IAEA verification requirements and to maintain measurement uncertainties within the significant quantity level.