TRU transmutation with high energy proton beam

Nuclear spallation reaction with high energy proton beam has been studied to be efficiently used for nuclear transmutation of the longlived nuclides generated in the spent fuel in the power reactor. In particular effective incineration of the transuranium nuclides (TRU) is able to be performed by this reaction. A national program called, OMEGA, has started aiming at promoting research and development of new technologies on nuclear waste partitioning and transmutation. JAERI has proposed the R and D plan for TRU transmutation by proton accelerators with the following items; 1) basic analysis of nuclear spallation and development of simulation code system, 2) design study of TRU transmutation plant, 3) spallation integral experiment and 4) development of an intensive high energy proton accelerator. In this paper we report the proceeding status of these research items, mainly about 1) and 2). (author)