Results of the SCK CEN Exercise for Disarmament Verification Technologies

The performance of measurement technologies are important in the framework of developing a verification strategy in a nuclear disarmament scenario. Therefore, the International Partnership for Nuclear Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) has identified testing technologies and procedures as an important step. Belgium proposed and organized at end of 2019 an international exercise at the site of the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) in Mol, Belgium. The aim of the exercise was focused on testing and comparing measurement techniques to be potentially used for the verification of nuclear material in the framework of the dismantlement of nuclear weapons. SCK CEN made available well characterized nuclear material in form of Mixed Oxide fuel. The relative content of Pu was up to 14%wt and the isotopic abundance of 239Pu was up to 93%wt. The amount of nuclear material being assayed could be chosen by the participants as well the type of an optional shielding material.
Ten measurement teams participated in the exercise deploying different gamma-ray and neutron measurement devices.
This report describes the content of the measurement campaign and the results that were obtained as well their significance for nuclear disarmament verification.