R and D strategy for partitioning and transmutation under OMEGA programme and neutron science project of JAERI

JAERI developed the double-strata fuel cycle concept and JAERI's OMEGA activities have been devoted for developing technologies which are needed to realize this concept. In this concept, partitioning is based on aqueous separation of high level liquid waste from the reprocessing plant and dedicated system with a very hard neutron spectrum is used for transmutation of minor actinides. Accelerator-driven subcritical system(ADS) and Actinide Burner Reactor(ABR) are designed. Neutron scattering has achieved some notable successes in recent years, such as unraveling the crystal structures of high-temperature superconductors, and is now exciting a lot of interest among biologists for probing large organic molecules. A limiting factor for neutron scattering research is the intensity of the neutron beams. High intensity of neutron beams allows researchers to carry out experiments that would otherwise be impossible. Under these circumstances, JAERI has launched the Neutron Science Project. The objective of the project is to construct a 5 MW spallation neutron source which consists of a high intensity proton accelerator. The R and D on accelerator-driven transmutation is performed under both the Neutron Science Project and the OMEGA programme. The paper discusses the strategy for developing ADS and the recent R and D achievements of P and T under the Neutron Science Project and the OMEGA programme. (author)