Year
2013
Abstract
The Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI) Spent Fuel Nondestructive Assay Project was started in March of 2009. The primary focus of this effort is to determine the Pu mass in spent fuel assemblies using nondestructive assay; additional goals include applying other signatures to verify the completeness and correctness of spent fuel declarations. This paper will give both a programmatic and technical update on the first four years of this effort. The programmatic portion will briefly describe the approach, review process, down-selection, experimental plans, and engagement with international partners. The technical portion will elaborate on the systems under on-going research with a particular emphasis on field trials that will take place in the 2013 to 2015 timeframe. This work is supported by the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative, Office of Nonproliferation and International Security, National Nuclear Security Administration. LA-UR-13-22090