Improvement of plutonium proliferation resistance by doping minor actinides

This paper focuses on improving the proliferation resistance of plutonium resulting from uranium-based fuel irradiation. Intrinsic properties of plutonium isotopes with even mass numbers (238Pu, 240Pu and 242Pu) - in terms of their intense decay heat and high spontaneous fission neutron rates - were used as a measure to improve the proliferation resistance of plutonium itself. The present study explores MA addition effect into LEU (5%235U) and HEU (20%235U) with regard to plutonium proliferation resistance characteristics. Consideration goes beyond critical condition to examine the potential of subcritical system in enhancing the plutonium proliferation properties. Results show that even the doping level of 1% of Np, TrPu or all MA elements into low enriched uranium improves the proliferation-resistant properties of plutonium. A potential for further improvement is achieved by higher doping of minor actinides into high enriched uranium irradiated in a subcritical mode.