enriched uranium - Article Index

Encyclopedia - Candu Reactor: Encyclopedia - Candu Reactor
The CANDU reactor is a pressurized-heavy water,(PHWR) natural uranium (i.e. unenriched) power reactor designed in the late 1950s and 1960...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Criticality Accident: Encyclopedia - Criticality Accident
A criticality accident (also sometimes referred to as an "excursion" or "power excursion") occurs when a nuclear chain reaction is accide...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atomic Nucleus: Encyclopedia - Atomic Nucleus
The nucleus of an atom is the very dense region in its center consisting of protons and neutrons. The size of the nucleus is much smaller...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Uranium: Encyclopedia - Uranium
Uranium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol U and atomic number 92. Heavy, silvery-white, toxic, metallic, na...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Aqueous Homogeneous Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Aqueous Homogeneous Reactor - History
Initial studies of homogeneous reactors took place toward the close of World War II. It pained chemists to see precisely fabricated solid...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Abdul Qadeer Khan: Encyclopedia Ii - Abdul Qadeer Khan - Development Of Nuclear Weapons
Khan established the Engineering Research Laboratories at Kahuta in July 1976, subsequently renamed as the Dr. A.Q. Khan Research Laborat...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapon: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapon - Types Of Nuclear Weapons
There are two basic types of nuclear weapons. The first are weapons which produce their explosive energy through nuclear fission reaction...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - June 2004: Encyclopedia Ii - June 2004 - Events
• 28 Anthony Buckeridge • 26 Naomi Shemer • 26 Yash Johar • 22 Bob Bemer • 22 Thomas Gold • 22 Francisco Ortiz Franco • 16 ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapon: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapon - Types Of Nuclear Weapons
There are two basic types of nuclear weapons. The first are weapons which produce their explosive energy through nuclear fission reaction...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plame Affair: Encyclopedia Ii - Plame Affair - Robert Novak Article
In his July 14, 2003 column, Novak wrote that the choice to use Wilson "was made routinely at a low level without [CIA] Director George T...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Candu Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Candu Reactor - Economic And Political Concerns
One economic disadvantage of the CANDU reactor design is the initial, one-time cost of the heavy water, although this high capital-cost p...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Uranium - History
The use of uranium, in its natural oxide form, dates back to at least AD 79, when it was used to add a yellow colour to ceramic glazes (y...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atomic Nucleus: Encyclopedia Ii - Atomic Nucleus - History
The discovery of the electron was the first indication that the atom had internal structure. At the turn of the 20th century the accepted...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - November 2004: Encyclopedia Ii - November 2004 - Events
• 30 Pierre Berton • 29 John Drew Barrymore • 26 Bill Alley • 24 Arthur Hailey • 23 Rafael Eitan • 18 Bobby Frank Cherry • ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - North Korea And Weapons Of Mass Destruction: Encyclopedia Ii - North Korea And Weapons Of Mass Destruction - Diplomatic Relations Between The U.s. And North Korea
Even though U.S. President George W. Bush had named North Korea as part of an "Axis of Evil" following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist A...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty - Treaty Pillars
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - First pillar: non-proliferation. Five states are permitted by the NPT to own nuclear weapons: the Un...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapon Design: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapon Design - Combination Methods
There are two techniques for assembling a supercritical mass. Broadly speaking, one brings two sub-critical masses together and the other...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plame Affair: Encyclopedia Ii - Plame Affair - Robert Novak Article
In his July 14, 2003 column, Novak wrote that the choice to use Wilson "was made routinely at a low level without [CIA] Director George T...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plutonium: Encyclopedia Ii - Plutonium - Precautions
All isotopes and compounds of plutonium are toxic and radioactive. While plutonium is sometimes described in media reports as "the most t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plutonium: Encyclopedia Ii - Plutonium - Occurrence
While almost all plutonium is manufactured synthetically, extremely tiny trace amounts are found naturally in uranium ores. These come ab...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Military Applications
Staballoys are metal alloys of a high proportion of depleted uranium with other metals, usually titanium or molybdenum, designed for use ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Dimona: Encyclopedia Ii - Dimona - Dimona Nuclear Reactor
An Israeli nuclear installation is located about ten kilometers to the south of Dimona, the Negev Nuclear Research Center. Its constructi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rbmk: Encyclopedia Ii - Rbmk - Design
An RBMK employs long (7 metre) vertical pressure tubes running through graphite moderator, and is cooled by water, which is allowed to bo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Pebble Bed Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Pebble Bed Reactor - Basic Design
The reactor provides heat, which is used to turn a generator. However, there are a number of different design choices. The uranium, thori...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapons And The United States: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapons And The United States - Development History
Nuclear weapons and the United States - Manhattan Project. The United States of America first began developing nuclear weapons during W...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sellafield: Encyclopedia Ii - Sellafield - History
Sellafield - Windscale. The Sellafield site is built on land that was formerly part of the Windscale nuclear site, which is named after...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tokai Ibaraki: Encyclopedia Ii - Tokai Ibaraki - Jco Reactivity Accident
Tokai is best known for a nuclear accident that occurred on September 30, 1999, which killed two people. The accident was a Criticality a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Uranium-238: Encyclopedia Ii - Uranium-238 - Radium Series
The 4n+2 chain of U-238 is commonly called the "radium series". The mean lifetime of U-238 is 1.41 × 1017 seconds divided by 0...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty - Treaty Pillars
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - First pillar: non-proliferation. Five states are permitted by the NPT to own nuclear weapons: France...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty - Treaty Pillars
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - First pillar: non-proliferation. Five states are permitted by the NPT to own nuclear weapons: France...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Proliferation: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Proliferation - Unsanctioned Nuclear Activity
Nuclear proliferation - Iraq. Up to the late 1980s it was generally assumed that any undeclared nuclear activities would have to be bas...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - John R. Bolton: Encyclopedia Ii - John R. Bolton - Nominee For Ambassador To The Un
On March 7, 2005 Bolton was nominated to the post of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations by President George W. Bush, but he was never ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fast Breeder Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Fast Breeder Reactor - Fbr Generating Plants
FBRs have been built and operated in the USA, the UK, France, the former USSR, India and Japan. As of 2004, a prototype FBR was under con...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Iraq Survey Group: Encyclopedia Ii - Iraq Survey Group - Organization And Operations
To make the WMD search more manageable, ISG was operationally divided up into several sectors each with its own Sector Control Point. The...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Magnox: Encyclopedia Ii - Magnox - General Description
Magnox reactors are pressurised carbon dioxide cooled, graphite moderated reactors using natural uranium (i.e. unenriched) as fuel and ma...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - 1900s-1939: Nuclear Physics And International Politics
After the discovery of the electron by J. J. Thomson and radioactivity by Henri Becquerel, at the start of the twentieth century the atom...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapon Design: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapon Design - Combination Methods
There are two techniques for assembling a supercritical mass. Broadly speaking, one brings two sub-critical masses together and the other...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mox Fuel: Encyclopedia Ii - Mox Fuel - Overview
In every nuclear reactor core there is both fission of isotopes such as uranium-235, and the formation of new, heavier isotopes due to ne...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Neptunium: Encyclopedia Ii - Neptunium - Notable Characteristics
Silvery in appearance, neptunium metal is fairly chemically reactive and is found in at least three structural modifications: alpha-nept...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Trinity Test: Encyclopedia Ii - Trinity Test - Planning For The Test
Planning for the test itself was assigned to Kenneth Bainbridge, a professor of physics at Harvard University, working under explosives e...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Notable Characteristics
Pure fluorine (F2) is a corrosive pale yellow gas that is a powerful oxidizing agent. It is the most reactive and electronegative of all ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hans Blix: Encyclopedia Ii - Hans Blix - Early Career
Hans Blix studied at Uppsala University, Columbia University, and the University of Cambridge (Trinity Hall), from which he holds a docto...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Heavy Water: Encyclopedia Ii - Heavy Water - Production
On Earth, semiheavy water, HDO, occurs naturally in regular water at a proportion of 1 part per 3200. It may be separated from regular wa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fast Breeder: Encyclopedia Ii - Fast Breeder - Fbr Generating Plants
FBRs have been built and operated in the USA, the UK, France, the former USSR, India and Japan. One of the plants in the USSR was also pr...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Uses
Depleted uranium - Nuclear energy applications. Depleted uranium is not usable directly as nuclear fuel. Depleted uranium can be used ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Candu Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Candu Reactor - Economic And Political Concerns
One economic disadvantage of the CANDU reactor design is the initial, one-time cost of the heavy water, although this high capital-cost p...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Criticality Accident: Encyclopedia Ii - Criticality Accident - Description
Most criticality accidents result in what is called a "blue flash," when surrounding air is ionized by an intense pulse of X-rays and gam...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Isotope Separation: Encyclopedia Ii - Isotope Separation - Techniques
Isotope separation - Diffusion. Often done with gases, but also with liquids, the diffusion method relies on the fact that in thermal e...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Reactor - Method Of Operation
Essentially all existing nuclear reactors are critical fission reactors that produce heat and neutrons through a nuclear fission chain re...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mox Fuel: Encyclopedia Ii - Mox Fuel - Overview
In every nuclear reactor core there is both fission of isotopes such as uranium-235, and the formation of new, heavier isotopes due to ne...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - January 2004: Encyclopedia Ii - January 2004 - Events
Ongoing events 2004 Canadian Federal Election Conservative leadership race 2004 Taiwan Presidential Election 2004 U.S. Presidential El...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Precautions
Both fluorine and HF must be handled with great care and any contact with skin and eyes should be strictly avoided. All equipment must be...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Preparation
Elemental fluorine is prepared industrially by Moissan's original process: electrolysis of anhydrous HF in which KHF2 has been dissolved ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Applications
Atomic fluorine and molecular fluorine are used for plasma etching in semiconductor manufacturing, flat panel display production and MEMS...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Reactor - History
In 1972, French physicist Francis Perrin declared that nature had beaten humans to the punch by creating the world’s first nuclear reac...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Reactor - The Future Of The Industry
As of 2006, Watts Bar 1, which came on-line in 1997, was the last U.S. commercial nuclear reactor to go on-line. This is often quoted as ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - John R. Bolton: Encyclopedia Ii - John R. Bolton - Biography
Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised as Lutheran. He attended McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Maryland, graduating in 1966...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - History
Fluorine in the form of fluorspar (calcium fluoride) was described in 1529 by Georgius Agricola for its use as a flux, which is a substan...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - Research In Nuclear Explosives Urged
Enrico Fermi recalled the beginning of the project in a speech given in 1954 when he retired as President of the APS. I remember very viv...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - Discovery Of The Feasibility Of An Atomic Bomb
It had been thought that an atomic bomb would need tons of uranium and so would be difficult to transport. In March 1940 in Birmingham UK...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty - History
See also: nuclear proliferation The treaty was proposed by Ireland, and opened for signature in 1968, Finland was the first to sign. By 1...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Magnox: Encyclopedia Ii - Magnox - Decommissioning
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is responsible for the decommissioning of the UK Magnox power plants, at an estimated cost of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fast Breeder Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Fast Breeder Reactor - Associated Reactor Types
One design of fast neutron reactor, specifically designed to address the waste disposal and plutonium issues, was the Integral Fast React...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Applications
Atomic fluorine and molecular fluorine are used for plasma etching in semiconductor manufacturing, flat panel display production and MEMS...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - John R. Bolton: Encyclopedia Ii - John R. Bolton - Undersecretary Of State For Arms Control
Bolton served as the Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security having been sworn in on May 11, 2001. In this ro...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Precautions
Both fluorine and HF must be handled with great care and any contact with skin and eyes should be strictly avoided. All equipment must be...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Nuclear Energy Applications
In a nuclear reactor, uranium-238 can be used to breed plutonium, which itself can be used in a nuclear weapon or as a reactor fuel sourc...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Reactor - The Future Of The Industry
Some experts predict that electricity shortages, fossil fuel price increases and concern over Greenhouse gas emissions will renew the dem...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Health Concerns
The major health impact of depleted uranium relate to its chemical toxicity as a heavy metal rather than to its radioactivity, which is r...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Production And Availability
Natural uranium metal contains about 0.71% U-235, 99.28% U-238, and about 0.0054% U-234. Depleted uranium contains only 0.2% to 0.4% U-23...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plame Affair: Encyclopedia Ii - Plame Affair - Actual Damage Caused
While the breaking of Valerie Plame's cover as a CIA employee may be regarded as serious in and of itself, there has been debate over the...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plame Affair: Encyclopedia Ii - Plame Affair - Conspiracy Theories
The Plame affair has generated more than one conspiracy theory. Plame affair - CIA conspiracy. A series of events (including reports Wi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Civilian Applications
Civilian applications for depleted uranium are fairly limited and are typically unrelated to its radioactive properties. It primarily fin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Reactor - History
Enrico Fermi and Leó Szilárd, while both were at the University of Chicago, were the first to build a nuclear pile and demonstrate a co...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Iraq Survey Group: Encyclopedia Ii - Iraq Survey Group - Political Implications
Bush's primary rationale for invading Iraq was the allegation that Saddam was actively developing WMD and had stockpiles. The Administrat...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - The Program Starts In Earnest
In December 1941, scientists at the University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, the University of California Radiation Laboratory and...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Iraq Survey Group: Encyclopedia Ii - Iraq Survey Group - March 2005 Report Addenda
In March 2005 Duelfer added an addenda to the original report, covering five topics: Prewar Movement of WMD Material Out of Iraq, conclu...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Iraq Survey Group: Encyclopedia Ii - Iraq Survey Group - David Kay Resigns
On January 23, 2004, the head of the ISG, David Kay, resigned his position, stating that he believed WMD stockpiles would not be found in...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Iraq Survey Group: Encyclopedia Ii - Iraq Survey Group - Formation
The ISG was made up of 1,200 members of Australian, British and American experts. David Kay, a prominent U.S. scientist who searched for ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fluorine: Encyclopedia Ii - Fluorine - Preparation
Elemental fluorine is prepared industrially by Moissan's original process: electrolysis of anhydrous HF in which KHF2 has been dissolved ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Fast Breeder Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Fast Breeder Reactor - Proliferation
It is generally agreed that the FBR poses a greater risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons than light water-moderated reactors. Water-m...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - Project Sites
Though it involved over thirty different research and production sites, the Manhattan Project was largely carried out in three secret sci...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Pebble Bed Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Pebble Bed Reactor - Safety Features
When a pebble-bed reactor gets hotter, the more rapid motion of the atoms in the fuel decreases the probability of neutron capture by 235...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plutonium: Encyclopedia Ii - Plutonium - Applications
The isotope 239Pu is a key fissile component in modern nuclear weapons, due to its ease of fissioning and availability. The critical mass...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Depleted Uranium: Encyclopedia Ii - Depleted Uranium - Production And Availability
Natural uranium metal contains about 0.71% U-235, 99.28% U-238, and about 0.0054% U-234. Depleted uranium contains only 0.2% to 0.4% U-23...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapons And The United States: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapons And The United States - Current Status
The United States is one of the five recognized nuclear powers under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It maintains a current arsenal...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapons And The United States: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapons And The United States - Agencies
The initial U.S. nuclear program was run by the National Bureau of Standards starting in 1939 under the edict of President Franklin Delan...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapons And The United States: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapons And The United States - Proliferation
After the development of the first nuclear weapons during World War II, there was much debate within the political circles and public sph...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Plutonium: Encyclopedia Ii - Plutonium - Compounds
Plutonium reacts readily with oxygen, forming PuO and PuO2, as well as intermediate oxides. It reacts with the halides, giving rise to co...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Criticality Accident: Encyclopedia Ii - Criticality Accident - Records
Criticality accidents have occurred both in the context of nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors. In 1945, Los Alamos scientist Harry K. ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mox Fuel: Encyclopedia Ii - Mox Fuel - Fabrication
The first step is separating the plutonium from the remaining uranium (about 96% of the spent fuel) and the fission products with other w...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Atomic Nucleus: Encyclopedia Ii - Atomic Nucleus - Nuclear Physics
A heavy nucleus can contain hundreds of nucleons (neutrons and protons), which means that to some approximation it can be treated as a cl...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Candu Reactor: Encyclopedia Ii - Candu Reactor - Measures That Address Concerns
Efficient CANDU installations are careful to control heavy water losses from the calandria, and also actively separate tritium from the m...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Sellafield: Encyclopedia Ii - Sellafield - Controversy
The site has been the subject of much controversy because of discharges of radioactive material, mainly accidental but some alleged to ha...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rbmk: Encyclopedia Ii - Rbmk - Positive Void Coefficient
Ordinary (light) water absorbs neutrons fairly readily, and so removing water from the core (such as happens when it boils and is replace...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rbmk: Encyclopedia Ii - Rbmk - Containment
The RBMK design includes several kinds of containment needed for normal operation. There is a sealed metal containment structure filled w...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapons And The United States: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapons And The United States - Accidents
The United States nuclear program has since its inception suffered from a number of accidents of varying forms, ranging from single-casua...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nuclear Weapons And The United States: Encyclopedia Ii - Nuclear Weapons And The United States - Public Reactions
From the public debut of nuclear weapons during the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they were a highly controversial technolog...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - The Plutonium Bomb
In contrast, the bombs used in the first test at Trinity Site, New Mexico (the gadget of the Trinity test), and also in the Nagasaki bomb...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - Similar Efforts
A similar effort was undertaken in the USSR headed by Igor Kurchatov (with a specific difference in that some of Kurchatov's World War II...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Manhattan Project: Encyclopedia Ii - Manhattan Project - The Uranium Bomb
The Hiroshima bomb, Little Boy, was made from uranium-235, a rare isotope of uranium that has to be physically separated from more preval...   » Read the article