A Suitability Study on the Indicator Isotopes for Graphite Isotope Ratio Method (GIRM)

Abstract

The Graphite Isotope Ratio Method (GIRM) can verify non-proliferation of nuclear weapon by estimating the total plutonium production in a graphite-moderated reactor. Using the reactor, plutonium is generated and accumulated through the 238U neutron capture reaction, and impurities in the graphite are converted to nuclides due to the nuclear reaction. Therefore, the amount of plutonium production and concentration of the impurities are correlated. However, the plutonium production cannot be predicted using only the absolute concentration of the impurities. It can only be predicted when the initial concentration of the impurities is obtained because the concentration, at a certain time, depends on it. Nevertheless, the ratios of the isotopes in an element are known regardless of the impurity of an element in the graphite moderator. Thus, the correlation between the isotope ratio and amount of plutonium produced helps predict plutonium production in a graphite-moderated reactor. Boron, Lithium, Chlorine, Titanium, and Uranium are known as indicator elements in the GIRM. To assess whether the correlation between the indicator isotope and amount of plutonium produced is independent of the initial concentration of the impurities, four different impurity compositions of graphite were used. 10B/11B, 36Cl/35Cl, 48Ti/49Ti, and 235U/238U had a consistent correlation with the cumulative plutonium production, regardless of the initial impurity concentration of the graphite, because these isotopes were not generated through the nuclear reaction of other elements. On the other hand, the correlation between 6Li/7Li and plutonium production depended on the initial concentration of the impurities in graphite. Although 7Li can be produced through the neutron capture reaction of 6Li, the (n, α) reaction of 10B was the major source of 7Li. Therefore, the initial concentration of 10B affected the production of 7Li, making Li unsuitable as an indicator element for the GIRM.