Evaluation of proliferation resistance of plutonium based on decay heat

The present paper is prepared for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Proliferation resistance of plutonium can be enhanced by increasing the decay heat of plutonium. For example, it can be enhanced by increasing the isotopic fraction of 238Pu, which has the largest decay heat among plutonium isotopes. In the present paper, the proliferation resistance of plutonium was evaluated based on decay heat with a physical assessment model. New criteria were proposed to evaluate the proliferation resistance based on isotopic compositions of plutonium from the viewpoint of decay heat. The present criteria were applied to evaluate the proliferation resistance of plutonium produced in typical Light Water Reactor and Fast Breeder Reactor based on an evaluation function 'Attractiveness' as case studies. (author)