ENRICHMENT TECHNOLOGY OF URANIUM AND THE PROLIFERATION PROBLEM

The important way to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons was to control the production and the use of fissile material. In particular, strengthening the control on weapon-usable fissile materials-highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium is essential. The production of HEU and its proliferation problem was mainly discussed. A comprehensive review of the status of various enrichment techniques is presented and the impact of these enrichment processes on the proliferation problem is discussed by the comparison of the characteristics of these techniques; Moreover, various possibilities to produce HEU by an existing facility for the production of LEU and the processes possibly to be chosed for constructing dedicated facility in a country are also analysed. Finally, the safeguards on the enrichment technology and some possible ways to detect the clandestine enrichment process are discussed.