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Scientific Visualization
| Issue Year: | 2015 |
| Quarter: | 4 |
| Volume: | 7 |
| Number: | 5 |
| Pages: | 38 - 52 |
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| Article Name: |
VISUALIZATION AS A TOOL FOR PLUTONIUM PROLIFERATION PROTECTION ASSESSMENT |
| Authors: |
E.G. Kulikov (Russian Federation) |
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Article is submitted by National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute) |
| Address: |
E.G. Kulikov
EGKulikov@mephi.ru
National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Moscow, Russian Federation |
| Abstract: |
The advancement of the nuclear power industry can come together with nuclear materials suitable both for peaceful and military applications circle. So, mathematical methodologies should be developed for the correct resolution of the following problem: what nuclear materials could be recognized as proliferation protected ones, i.e. what nuclear materials are unsuitable for manufacturing a nuclear explosive device (NED).
As known, there are two fundamentally different types of NED: gun-type and implosion-type [1]. The computational-theoretical model of gun-type device has been considered in author’s previous paper [2].
In the present paper computational-theoretical model has been developed and visualized, which aims at quantitative assessment of plutonium proliferation protection against creating implosion-type hypothetical nuclear explosive device (HNED). The main nuclear-physical and thermal processes that occur in implosion-type HNED are being modeled.
The model allows us to develop requirements that guarantee non-functionality of implosion-type HNED. This is achieved by introducing radioactive isotope (238Pu) into plutonium, the heat of alpha-decay of which could overheat HNED and render it non-functional.
The present paper is an essential development of previous works devoted to plutonium proliferation protection.
Firstly, it has been demonstrated that it is necessary to analyze the transient warming-up process of implosion-type HNED to determine how soon such a device loses its functionality taking into account various compositions of plutonium and other materials used, as well as different methods of heat dissipation.
Secondly, the possibility has been analyzed to slow down warming-up process of implosion-type HNED by means of:
- preliminary cooling of implosion-type HNED components;
- encircling of HNED with a heat sink layer;
- introducing thermal isolating inter-layers into HNED structure for purposeful re-distribution of temperature field in such a way when device keeps its functionality the longest.
These aspects are not only fundamentally new, but extremely important, as they affect plutonium proliferation protection estimations drastically (several times difference).
As plutonium proliferation protection issues concern not only engineers, but also representatives of some of the humanities, visualization of these issues is essential. Moreover, the material presented in such a form is much easier for students to understand. |
| Language: |
English |
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