Plutonium Isotopes and the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

[Oscar]

Plutonium Isotopes and the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

by Gordon Edwards, May 2024 - SEE BACKGROUND below . . .

[ https://www.ccnr.org/plute_for_bombs_GE_2024.pdf ]

EXCERPT: "The construction of a nuclear weapon requires either weapons-usable plutonium or weapons-usable uranium. To prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons capabilities worldwide, these materials must be carefully controlled and kept out of circulation.

In this context, confusion is often caused by misconstruing the precise definitions of technical terms:

. (a) although some materials are designated as “weapons-grade”, it is not true that only weapons-grade materials can be used to make nuclear weapons;

. (b) although some nuclear weapons are said to have a “fizzle yield”, it is not true to infer that such weapons fail to detonate, nor is it is correct to suggest that a fizzle yield is anything short of an enormously destructive explosion;

. (c) although some isotopes of plutonium are said to be “non-fissile”, it is not correct to infer that such materials cannot function as nuclear explosives.

Here are some important facts relevant to the question of nuclear weapons proliferation:

1. All nuclear weapons require a primary nuclear explosive material to produce a nuclear fission explosion. The only realistic candidates for a primary nuclear explosive are (i) highly enriched uranium (uranium with more than 20 percent uranium-235), (ii) plutonium extracted from used nuclear fuel, or (iii) human-made uranium-233. These three materials are designated as “sensitive nuclear materials” by the IAEA. See “Safeguarding Sensitive Nuclear Materials: Reinforced Approaches” [ https://www.iaea.org/.../bulletin/bull3 ... 052327.pdf ] . . . . .

MORE: [ https://www.ccnr.org/plute_for_bombs_GE_2024.pdf ]

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BACKGROUND:

Plutonium is the stuff [ http://www.ccnr.org/Peaceful_Atom.html ] out of which atomic bombs are made. Every commercial nuclear reactor produces plutonium as a byproduct, and it is all nuclear weapons-usable. Proponents of peaceful nuclear power have often stated, incorrectly, that plutonium produced in a nuclear power reactor is not usable for nuclear weapons. In fact all plutonium is suitable for making very powerful nuclear explosive devices. [ http://www.ccnr.org/plute_sandia.html ]

This issue is becoming increasingly important. Politicians and the public are urged to consider “recycling” reactor waste by extracting the small fraction (less than one percent) of plutonium from used nuclear fuel to be re-used as an additional nuclear reactor fuel. Once extracted, plutonium intended for use as fuel can be used instead for the fabrication of nuclear weapons. This has been done by India, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan. Plutonium extraction, referred to as “reprocessing” used nuclear fuel or (euphemistically) as “recycling” nuclear waste, if implemented internationally, will give many would-be weaponeers – both national and subnational – the material wherewithall to join the nuclear weapons club.

Gordon Edwards.