On the use of ion beams for the selection of radioactive waste matrices

The safe and long-term control of radioactive waste arising from nuclear power plants is one of the major challenges to the future use of nuclear energy. The evaluation of nuclear waste matrices relies on numerous conditions regarding the physico-chemical properties of the selected materials, such as resistance against oxidation or aqueous corrosion, stability in a radioactive environment, and ability to confine radioactive elements. Ion beams provide efficient tools for the evaluation of radwaste matrices since they allow to address three major issues: (i) the simulation of ion irradiation; (ii) the doping of the matrix with stable elements simulating the nuclei to be confined; and (iii) the characterization of the material by the use of nuclear microanalysis techniques. Illustrative examples are provided in the case of urania and zirconia.