Sintering characteristics and properties of PuS and PuP are determined

Report on the preparation of plutonium monosulphide and plutonium monophosphide includes a description of the sintering characteristics and properties of these high-temperature compounds. data on weight loss, microstructure, density, melting point, thermal expansion, microhardness, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal diffusion are included

Plutonium-Xenon systematics of Angrites

Introduction: Angrites are igneous meteorites that crystallized very early in the solar system, ~10 Ma after CAIs, as also implied by the presence of now extinct short-lived radionuclides such as 53Mn, 146Sm and 244Pu [1]. Fission Xe was used to calculate 244Pu-136Xeretention ages of eucrites, relative to that of Angra dos Reis (AdoR) [2]. AdoR has an absolute Pb-Pb age of 4557.8 Ma [see 1 for ref.]. Most eucrites, being as old as angrites, experienced various parent body processes leading to ages ranging from ~20 Ma before, to ~100 Ma after AdoR [2]. Angrites, however, remained largely unaltered after differentiation. Here, we examine whether Xe isotopic characteristics allow determining an age sequence for angrites

The Debye-Waller factor of stabilized delta-Pu

The Debye-Waller factor has been calculated for stabilized delta-phase plutonium with 5% aluminum. A quasi-harmonic Born-von Karman force model with temperature dependent phonon frequencies was used to calculate the mean-square thermal atomic displacement from absolute zero to 800 K. Implementation of the observed anomalous softening of the long wavelength phonons with increasing temperature cannot account for the softening of the measured thermal parameter at high temperatures nor for its rather high value at low temperatures. The implications for diffraction measurements on delta-phase stabilized plutonium alloys are discussed.Comment: Presented at the conference Plutonium Futures - The Science 200

Magnesium-zinc reduction is effective in preparation of metals

Uranium, thorium, and plutonium are effectively prepared by magnesium-zinc reduction, using uranium oxides, thorium dioxide, and plutonium dioxide as starting materials. This technique is also useful in performing reduction of metals such as zirconium and titanium

Gamma radiation characteristics of plutonium dioxide fuel

Investigation of plutonium dioxide as an isotopic fuel for Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators yielded the isotopic composition of production-grade plutonium dioxide fuel, sources of gamma radiation produced by plutonium isotopes, and the gamma flux at the surface

Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons Program and Implications for US National Security.

This article analyzes Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program and the characteristics of the environment in which the program is nested. These characteristics include Pakistan’s history of internal and external instability; nuclear saber rattling during crises; support for Islamic terrorism in order to advance state goals; indigenous production of many elements of its nuclear forces; possession of delivery and command and control systems with destabilizing characteristics; and finally, nuclear doctrine that appears to advocate first use of nuclear weapons. The article argues that the characteristics of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program generate threats to US national security interests. The article examines six interrelated and synergistic challenges for US national security: first, Pakistan is engaged in an arms race in Southwest Asia that has negative implications for Pakistan’s stability; second, the threat of nuclear proliferation from Pakistan continues; third, Pakistan’s arsenal characteristics make accidental and/or unauthorized nuclear war more likely; fourth, there is an ongoing possibility of war with India; fifth, Islamist influence is spreading through key sectors of Pakistani society; and finally, there is an increasing danger of state failure in Pakistan