Measuring bulk and particle nuclear materials is a crucial part of nuclear safeguards. A rigorous quality system, supported by metrological quality control tools, ensures the accuracy of nuclear materials measurements.
These measurements play a vital role in the effectiveness of nuclear safeguards systems, helping authorities meet the challenge of achieving a high level of detection probability. In the worst-case scenario, they may need to stand in court.
The JRC has the mandate of ensuring a standard system of measurements, including the provision of Certified Reference Materials.
Independent and accurate measurements are at the basis of safeguards verification
Developing technical standards helps to maximize compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality of nuclear material measurement techniques
The JRC was among the pioneers in the development of certified reference materials used for measuring U and Pu content in solutions.
When EURATOM or IAEA inspectors take samples in nuclear facilities, these must be characterized with the highest accuracy achievable.
The Hybrid K-edge (HKED) is a key analytical technique for nuclear safeguards in nuclear reprocessing plants and in fuel production plants
The Combined Procedure for Uranium Concentration and Enrichment Assay (COMPUCEA) is a high-accuracy technique used for measuring the uranium element concentration and the 235U-enrichment.
The Euratom on-site laboratory in La Hague (France), is located within the French civil spent fuel reprocessing facility of Orano. It allows to measure nuclear materials directly on-site
In a strenghtened safeguards framework, nuclear inspectors can collect environmental samples at facilities. The samples are analysed in one of the IAEA Networks of Analytical Laboratories.